Infection-free hemodialysis: can it be achieved?

Infection is the second most common cause of mortality in patients with end stage re-nal disease (ESRD). Following strict aseptic precautions during a hemodialysis (HD) session could reduce dialysis-related infection, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity rates. This retrospective study was undertaken to identify the prevalence of dialysis-related bacteremia, sepsis, and catheter infections during HD at Bahrain Specialist Hospital, Bahrain, after following rigid infection control procedures. All HD sessions performed between January 2004 and December 2007 were included. Strict aseptic precautions were observed for every patient in our dialysis unit. The patients' demographic characteristics as well as presence of hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) and use of immunosuppressive drugs were recorded. Results of culture of dialysis catheter tip were collected for all catheters removed or changed during the study period. Catheter surface culture yielding more than 15 colonies and catheter lumen culture yielding more than 1000 CFU/mL were considered positive. All episodes of rigors, chills, bacteremia, and sepsis were recorded. Overall, a total of 1084 HD sessions performed on 46 patients were studied. The mean age of the study patients was 55.2 years (SE 2.5). Fifty four percent were male, 50% had DM, 85% had HTN and 11% were immunosuppressed. With implementation of strict aseptic precautions no catheter-related infection, bacteremia or sepsis was found. Culture of 50 dialysis catheters showed Diptheroid in three patients, MRSE in two patients and MSSE, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella in one patient each. None of the study patients had signs or symptoms of infection or bacteremia. Our study further indicates that following strict aseptic precautions during HD sessions can reduce, if not eliminate, infection as a major cause of mortality and morbidity.