Pathogenesis and Management of Dialysis Access Infections

Infections related to dialysis access devices are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in dialysis dependent end-stage renal disease patients. Catheter related blood stream infections and their related complications in hemodialysis, and peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis are a significant threat to the continued use of the respective dialysis access devices. They lead to interruption of regular dialysis, increased hospitalization rates and health care costs for their management. The incidence of infectious complications can be decreased as the factors that confer an increased risk of such access device infections are potentially modifiable. This chapter discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical manifestations, treatment and prevention of both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis access device related infectious complications.