Why are hemodialysis grafts prone to infection?

• A. They are foreign materials that can harbor bacteria.
• B. They are highly resistant to antibiotics.
• C. They self-clean and do not require sterile technique.
• D. They are from the patient’s own tissue.

Answer: (A)

Grafts used for hemodialysis are foreign materials implanted to create a connection between an artery and a vein. Because they are not the patient’s own tissue, bacteria can readily adhere to their surface and form biofilms. These biofilms are communities of bacteria encased in a protective matrix that shields them from the immune system and many antibiotics, making infections on grafts more likely and harder to treat. Sterile technique helps reduce risk, but the inherent susceptibility of a prosthetic surface to colonization remains. This contrasts with using the patient’s own tissue for access (a fistula), which carries a lower infection risk since it is autogenous.