Significant of positive bacterial cultures from aortic aneurysms.

Samples for bacteriological examination were obtained from the aneurysm wall of 85 patients subjected to abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. Twelve patients (14%) had positive cultures. A total of 13 bacterial strains were isolated, the majority of which were present in only small numbers and were regarded as contaminants. One patient developed a graft infection due to ischemic necrosis of the sigmoid colon. During the follow-up period no further graft infection was noted in patients with positive or negative aortic cultures. It is concluded that the aneurysm wall itself does not represent an important source of early or late graft infection.