Table 1.
Patient characteristics at the time of suspected catheter–related bloodstream infection
| Characteristics | Events, n=100 | Patients, n=62a |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||
| Men (%) | 47 (51.6) | 35 (56.5) |
| Age, yr, mean (range, median) | 61 (26–88, 62) | 61 (26–88, 62) |
| Hemodialysis related | ||
| Hemodialysis vintage, mo, mean (range, median) | 71 (1–248, 54) | 63 (1–248, 47) |
| Central venous catheter, tunneled (%) | 100 (100) | 62 (100) |
| Central venous catheter location (%) | ||
| Right internal jugular | 70 (70) | 47 (75.8) |
| Left internal jugular | 24 (24) | 12 (19.4) |
| Right femoral | 4 (4) | 1 (1.6) |
| Left femoral | 1 (1) | 1 (1.6) |
| Right external jugular | 1 (1) | 1 (1.6) |
| Central venous catheter vintage, mean (range, median) d,b | 345 (1–1616, 172) | 338 (3–1475, 245) |
| Signs and symptoms on hemodialysis (%)c | Events, n=124 | Patients, n=74d |
| Fever (>37.8°C on hemodialysis) | 43 (34.7) | 27 (36.4) |
| Chills | 12 (9.7) | 9 (12.1) |
| Suspected exit site infection | 11 (8.9) | 10 (13.5) |
| Hypotension (SBP<100 mmHg or drop of SBP by >25 mmHg during hemodialysis) | 20 (16.1) | 9 (12.1) |
| Nausea or vomiting | 4 (3.2) | 1 (1.4) |
| Generalized pain | 4 (3.2) | 1 (1.4) |
| Weakness | 2 (1.6) | 0 |
| Feeling generally unwell | 8 (6.5) | 3 (4.1) |
| Shortness of breath | 2 (1.6) | 1 (1.4) |
| Undefined reason | 18 (14.5) | 13 (17.5) |
SBP, systolic BP.
a
Value related to the first event in the patients with multiple episodes of suspected hemodialysis catheter–related bloodstream infections.
b
Information on catheter vintage was not available for one patient, because catheter insertion occurred at another dialysis center.
c
Multiple signs and symptoms per event are reported.
d
Multiple signs and symptoms reported at the first event in the patients with multiple episodes of catheter–related bloodstream infections.