Tunneled catheter-related bacteremia in hemodialysis patients: incidence, risk factors and outcomes. A 14-year observational study.
J Nephrol 2023;
36:203-212. [PMID:
35976569 PMCID:
PMC9895018 DOI:
10.1007/s40620-022-01408-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Tunneled catheter-related bacteremia represents one of the major complications in patients on hemodialysis, and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of tunneled catheter-related bacteremia and, secondly, to identify possible factors involved in the first episode of bacteremia.
METHODS
This is a retrospective study of all tunneled catheters inserted between 1 January, 2005 and 31 December, 2019. Data on patients with a tunneled catheter were analyzed for comorbidities, catheter characteristics, microbiological culture results and variables related to the first episode of bacteremia. Patient outcomes were also assessed.
RESULTS
In the 14-year period under study, 406 tunneled catheters were implanted in 325 patients. A total of 85 cases of tunneled catheter-related bacteremia were diagnosed, resulting in an incidence of 0.40 per 1000 catheter days (81.1% after 6 months of implantation). The predominant microorganisms isolated were Gram-positive organisms: Staphylococcus epidermidis (48.4%); Staphylococcus aureus (28.0%). We found no significant differences in time to catheter removal for infections or non-infection-related reasons. The jugular vein, the Palindrome® catheter, and being the first vascular access were protective factors for the first episode of bacteremia. The 30-day mortality rate from the first tunneled catheter-related bacteremia was 8.7%.
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of bacteremia in our study was low and did not seem to have a relevant impact on catheter survival. S. epidermidis was the most frequently isolated microorganism, followed by S. aureus. We identified Palindrome® catheter, jugular vein, and being the first vascular access as significant protective factors against tunneled catheter-related bacteremia.
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