Gram-negative bacterial surgical site infection and intensive care unit patients.

could not be extrapolated to all practices in the United States. We would like to point out that the 63 cases of allograft-associated infections cited as “alleged” were actually definite: all were ascertained through strict case definition, active case finding, detailed tissue trace-back investigation, and microbiological confirmation. Notwithstanding the excellent safety record of allograft tissues, we believe that there is a low yet tangible risk of infection associated with implantation of aseptically processed tissues. Our report serves only to highlight areas where patient safety could be enhanced. This is consistent with previous discussions that tissue banks need to consider new tissue sterilization technologies for enhancing patient safety [3–5]. It is unfortunate, therefore, that this safety message has been interpreted as an “advertisement for sterilized tissue.”