causes and risk factors of hemodialysis catheter infection in dialysis patients: a prospective study

Objectives: infectious central venous catheter (cvc) complications, including mortality and care and hospitalization costs, are still a major clinical concern. this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hemodialysis catheter infection and its risk factors among hemodialysis patients. methods: the present research was a descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study on hemodialysis patients in babol hospitals during 2020 - 21. the participants' demographic information and some relevant data on clinical variables (namely underlying diseases, cause of dialysis, and cause of catheter removal) and catheter-related variables (namely catheter location, frequency of catheter placement, and apparent signs of catheter site) were collected and recorded directly and systematically during surgery post-surgery. results: one hundred and twenty-two patients with temporary double-lumen acute hemodialysis catheters for dialysis, including 56 women (45.9%), were included in this study, the mean age of whom was 58.9 ± 16.4 years. twenty-two patients (18%) developed a catheter-induced systemic infection. there was no significant relationship between the catheter site and its removal inducing infection (p > 0.05). the frequencies of microorganisms causing catheter infection included gram-positive staphylococcus epidermis (59%) and staphylococcus aureus (31.8%). moreover, there was no significant correlation between demographic variables and clinical history with systemic infection induced by catheterization. conclusions: the rate of catheter-induced infection is relatively high among patients since sterile instructions were observed during catheterization; therefore, it is recommended to pay more attention to the care and dressing of the catheter site.