A national audit of antimicrobial prophylaxis in vascular surgery.

A standard questionnaire on antimicrobial prophylaxis for elective and emergency vascular surgery was sent to 262 practising members of the Association of Vascular Surgeons (U.K.). The response rate was 68.3%. A cephalosporin based regime was used in 61.1% of cases while penicillin was used in 39.3% and an aminoglycoside in 6.5%. More than one antibiotic was routinely used in 15.6% of cases, with specific antianaerobic cover in 19%. Prophylaxis was used in all cases using a prosthetic graft, but in only 76% of cases using autogenous vein ( p vs . 4.5%, p