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Dialysis Blood Infections

Dialysis---the use of machines to help impaired kidneys filter waste---can cause a number of infections, including those of the blood. These infections may be serious and require immediate treatment.

  1. Causes

    • Dialysis-induced blood infections result when harmful bacteria---most often staphylococcus---form in the dialysis catheter or grafts that exchange the blood. People with compromised kidney infection are more vulnerable to these bacteria.

    Complications

    • Blood infections can spread to the lungs, heart, joints and other parts of the body. This can cause serious tissue damage.

    Determining Treatment

    • Treatment depends on the severity of the infection and other factors, such as the presence of other illnesses or fever or if the infection has moved beyond the blood.

    Antibiotics

    • Less severe infections usually respond to a course of antibiotics that typically lasts several weeks, according to the American Association of Kidney Patients. Your doctor will monitor factors such as white blood cell count and the presence of certain symptoms--such as fever, vomiting and fatigue--to determine if treatment is working.

    Removal

    • In certain instances, doctors will remove the graft or catheter to eradicate the source of infection. You might get a new piece of equipment or, if possible, receive the dialysis in a different manner.

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