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Protect Yourself From Deadly Infections: Ditch That Catheter ASAP
http://www.dialysispatients.org/dpc-...ter-march-2011
Sometimes having a catheter is necessary when you need to have your fistula worked on or a new one created, but dialyzing with a catheter increases dialysis patients’ risk for infections. There are over 382,000 people receiving dialysis in the United States and the Centers for Disease Control states about 37,000 dialysis patients acquire blood stream infections each year. Infections are a leading cause of hospitalization and death in hemodialysis patients.
You can reduce your risk for infection by choosing to get a fistula as your dialysis access. The second best option behind a fistula is a graft. If you cannot have either or are waiting for your new access site to be ready for dialysis, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk for infection.
Sometimes having a catheter is necessary when you need to have your fistula worked on or a new one created, but dialyzing with a catheter increases dialysis patients’ risk for infections. There are over 382,000 people receiving dialysis in the United States and the Centers for Disease Control states about 37,000 dialysis patients acquire blood stream infections each year. Infections are a leading cause of hospitalization and death in hemodialysis patients.
You can reduce your risk for infection by choosing to get a fistula as your dialysis access. The second best option behind a fistula is a graft. If you cannot have either or are waiting for your new access site to be ready for dialysis, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk for infection.