Effectiveness of a protocol for the prevention of hemodialysis venous catheter-related infections

Purpose: Infections are a major complication of the use of hemodialysis central venous catheters. In our study we evaluated the efficacy of the hemodialysis central venous catheter protocol management adopted in our center, through a retrospective analysis of all hemodialysis central venous catheters inserted over a period of 6 years. Methods: Seventy-three tunneled central venous catheters and 75 temporary central venous catheters were inserted in our center from 2003 to 2008 in 148 patients. Results: During the follow-up we observed 30 infective events (16 assessed as bacteremias, 14 subcutaneous tunnel or exit site infections) with a rate of 0.65/1,000 days of central venous catheter implantation. Conclusions: Our experience confirms, in a 72-month follow-up, the importance of careful central venous catheter management as a crucial feature in reducing the incidence of infective events in patients with central venous catheters in dialytic treatment.