Infections Associated with Hemodialysis Vascular Accesses and with Catheters Used for Hemodialysis

Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases

Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

Hemodialysis patients require a vascular-access site for blood removal and replacement after wastes have been removed.Modern types of vascular access include the native arteriovenous fistula (constructed of native vessels), arteriovenous graft (of synthetic materials), permanent (tunnelled, cuffed) catheters, temporary (nontunneled, noncuffed) catheters, and implanted port devices. In December 2001, the types of access used to treat hemodialysis patients in the United States were as follows: 44.4% of patients via an arteriovenous graft, 30.4% via an arteriovenous fistula, and 24.6% via a temporary or permanent central catheter (1).