Treatment of infected aneurysms
Management of infected aneurysms is complex and should be undertaken by a multidisciplinary team that includesWilson 2016:
- a vascular surgeon, cardiovascular surgeon or neurosurgeon
- a cardiologist
- a radiologist
- an infectious diseases physician or clinical microbiologist.
Infected aneurysms are rare in children; seek expert paediatric advice for management.
Take 3 sets of blood samples for culture (ideally from separate venipuncture sites) before starting empirical therapy because identification of the responsible pathogen is important.
For empirical therapy of infected aneurysms associated with infective endocarditis, treat as for native valve infective endocarditis or prosthetic valve infective endocarditis.
For empirical therapy of healthcare-associated infected aneurysms, seek expert advice.
For empirical therapy of community-associated infected aneurysms, the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy depends on whether the patient has sepsis or septic shock: