Bloodstream infections and local access site infection surveillance program in hemodialysis, Vaud, Switzerland

Patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of developing bloodstream infections (BSI) and local access site infection (LASI). These infections engender high morbidity and mortality. In 2007, a BSI and LASI infections surveillance program was created, following the implementation of recommendations for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in HD centers of the canton of Vaud. Between 2007-2013, this surveillance program encountered organizational difficulties and failed to produce usable data representative of the situation.