Survey among French dialysis practitioners about the screening and decolonization of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage in dialysis patients

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an increased risk of staphylococcal infections in this population. Data from the literature showed that decolonization of S. aureus nasal carriers in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis reduce S. aureus catheter-related infections. During the last national congress of nephrology, a survey was conducted among volunteer dialysis physicians to evaluate their practice about screening and decolonization of S. aureus nasal carriage among their patients. Only 30 participants (45.5% [30/661) declared to screen S. aureus nasal carriage in patients of hemodialysis and 59.6% (31/52) in peritoneal dialysis. Participants declared to decolonize their patients before insertion of a vascular catheter in 55.8% of cases. This small study would need to be completed by a national survey. (C) 2015 Association Societe de nephrologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.