At a glance
- CDC conducts bloodstream infection surveillance for patients on dialysis.
- There has been national progress in preventing bloodstream infections.
Bloodstream infections in outpatient hemodialysis facilities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts surveillance for bloodstream infections (BSIs) and related events among patients receiving hemodialysis through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Outpatient dialysis facilities have made significant progress in preventing BSIs nationally. The decrease in BSIs reflects collaborative efforts among outpatient dialysis providers, federal agencies, and professional societies and implementation of infection prevention and control best practices.
Key takeaways
40%
Between 2014 and 2019 the pooled BSI Standard Infection Ratio (SIR)A decreased by 40% (p<0.0001, 95% CI [39%, 41%]).
The BSI rate decreased for every vascular access type. However, it remained highest in patients with central venous catheters (CVCs), like previously published data.
Next steps
- Ensuring infection prevention and control best practices, including the Core Interventions, are implemented equitably across all dialysis facilities.
- Identifying additional strategies to expand BSI prevention.
- Decreasing CVC use and increasing the number of patients with arteriovenous fistulas and grafts as a vascular access.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance Summary of Bloodstream Infections (BSI) in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities — National Healthcare Safety Network, 2014–2019