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Dialysis for end-stage renal disease is readily available in the U.S.: More than 183,000 patients received hemodialysis in 1996. Infections from hemodialysis vascular access cause substantial morbidity and mortality among patients with renal failure, but no standard system exists for monitoring these infections. During an 18-month period at 3 Idaho outpatient facilities, these investigators used a standardized surveillance and data reporting system to assess infections in hemodialysis patients by type of access and infection (blood, local access site, or catheter tip).
There were 176 vascular-access infections, an incidence of 4.62 per 1000 dialysis sessions. Stratified by access type, patients with temporary, nontunneled catheters had the h…