The evaluation of catheter infections in kidney disease patients

Aim: In our study, we aimed to review the factors retrospectively that may be related to catheter infection (CI) in patients who received hemodialysis (HD) treatment in our clinic and followed up due to CI. Materials and Methods: The files of 105 patients who were hospitalized in the Nephrology clinic or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and who were diagnosed as CI while on HD treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Forty-seven (44.8%) of the patients were male, 58 (55.2%) were female and the mean age was 62.3 ± 17.6 (19-90). The average length of hospital stay of the patients was 16 (2-60) days and the infection was mortal in 16 (15.2%) patients. In the cultures taken from the catheters, in 51 (48.6%) patients Gr (+) bacteria, in 24 (22.9%) patients Gr (-) bacteria and in 2 (1.9%) patients fungi were detected. There was no reproduction in 26 (24.8%) catheter cultures. The methicillin resistance (MR) was 87.6% and the highest resistance was detected in Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CNS) and S. aureus culture samples. 43 (41.0%) of the patients didn't respond to antibiotics during treatment and catheter exchange was required in these patients. Catheter replacement requirement was significantly higher in the Gr (-) bacterial group (14 patients, 58.3%) (p = 0.050). Conclusion: To prevent CI, it is important to reveal the factors related to infection. Microbiological agent distribution and resistance rate of each clinic and HD unit are different. Antibiotherapy should be planned according to this agent distribution to decrease antibiotic resistance.