ANALYSIS OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF TEMPORARY HEMODIALYSIS CATHETERS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Temporary hemodialysis catheters are important devices used in dialysis practice. This study assessed the infectious complications associated with 113 hemodialysis catheters in 70 patients. The frequency of catheter-related bacteriaemia (CRB) was found 23.9 %. Staphylococci were the most frequent growing organism (96.3 %). The longer the catheters were remained in the body, the higher the frequency of CRB-development was significantly increased. Exitsite infection was observed in one patient. The development of CRB was significantly increased with the number of venous punctures. There was a positive correlation between hypoalbuminemia and bacteriaemia. Internal jugular venous catheterization, hypoalbuminemia and diabetes mellitus were determined as risk factors for the development of CRB. No cases were lost due to the complications. In order to decrease the rate of access infections, the first step is to increase the use of arterio-venous fistulae and the second step is to determine the risk factors for CRB.