Catheter related infection in hemodialysis patients with double lumen catheter.

Abstract

Catheter related infections are common issue, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with uremia. Clinical findings, including fever, redness, or tenderness at catheter site are unreliable for the diagnosis of catheter-related infection due to poor sensitivity and specificity. Study Design: Descriptive Cross sectional Study. Setting: Department of Nephrology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Period: September 2014 to March 2015. Materials and Methods: All patients with age 25-50 years of either gender undergoing hemodialysis via double-lumen catheter were enrolled. Regular monitoring of temperature and WBC counts was carried out. If a patient develops fever (100 F or more) or leukocytosis (TLC 12,000 /mcl), a through re-examination, urinalysis and chest X-ray was done to exclude other causes of infection in this patient. Blood cultures from catheter tip and a peripheral blood culture was sent. Growth of the organism from both the cultures was noted and catheter related infection was termed positive if same organism s found to be present in both the cultures. Results: Mean age of the patients was 42.69 ±6.86 years. There were 75 (58.10%) females and 54 (41.90%) males. In majority of the patients, site of catheter was right internal jugular vein 54 (41.90%), followed by femoral vein 30 (23.30%), left internal jugular vein 24 (18.60%) and subclavian vein in 21 (16.30%) patients. Frequency of catheter related infection was found to be 19 (14.70%). Conclusion: The frequency of catheter related infection was found in 19 (14.70%) patients undergoing hemodialysis via double-lumen catheter.