RT Journal
A1 Nsouli KA, Lazarus J, Schoenbaum SC, Gottlieb MN, Lowrie EG, Shocair M
T1 BActeremic infection in hemodialysis
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1979
FD November 1
VO 139
IS 11
SP 1255
OP 1258
DO 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630480039014
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630480039014
AB This is a retrospective study of 133 episodes of bacteremic infection in 112 hemodialysis patients. The frequency of bacteremic infection was 9.5% in patients with chronic renal failure and 10.9% in patients with acute renal failure. In patients with acute renal failure, pneumonia and intra-abdominal abscess were the most frequent sources of septicemia. Sepsis was usually due to Gram-negative organisms and mortality was high. In patients with chronic renal failure, infection of the shunt or fistula was the most common cause, was frequently due to Staphylococcus organism, and had a more favorable survival rate. Gram-negative septicemia from a nonaccess source in patients with chronic renal failure was associated with a higher mortality. Bacterial endocarditis and septic pulmonary emboli occurred in 3.6% of septic episodes and 0.35% of patients at risk and had very low mortality. A low threshold for obtaining blood cultures and early antibiotic treatment are believed to be important in the treatment of bacteremic infections in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis.(Arch Intern Med 139:1255-1258, 1979)