Healthcare-associated infections are a major risk to patient safety.
Infection is the first cause of hospitalisation and the second most common
cause of mortality among haemodialysis (HD) patients. HD patients, as well as
the dialysis staff, are vulnerable to contracting healthcare-associated
infections due to frequent and prolonged exposures to many possible
contaminants in the dialysis environment. The extracorporeal nature of the
therapy, the associated common environmental conditions, and the immune
compromised status of HD patients are major predisposing factors. HD patients
are exposed to different types of infections which include bloodstream infections
and localized infections of the vascular access, blood-borne infections with
hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and/or human immunodeficiency virus, and
airborne infections. Sources of infections include contaminated water,
equipment, environmental surfaces, and infected patients. The evident increased
potential for transmission of infections in the HD settings led to the creation
and implementation of specific and stricter infection prevention and control
measures in addition to the usual standard precautions. Contaminated hands of
healthcare workers are among the most common modes of transmission of
healthcare-associated infections. Hand hygiene is singled out as the most
important infection prevention intervention. Hand hygiene compliance can be
improved by continuous education and monitoring, providing a sufficient number
of sinks with soap dispensers, paper towels, hand lotions and alcohol-based
hand rub placed at each patient station, and regular feedback of surveillance
results. Education and training and full awareness of infection control
policies and procedures should be provided to all Healthcare workers and to be
repeated regularly. The patient and/or caregiver should also be educated on
hand hygiene and the care of new vascular access.
Rayner, H.C.,
Pisoni, R.L.,
Bommer, J.,
Canaud, B.,
Hecking, E.,
Locatelli, F.,
Piera, L.,
Bragg-Gresham, J.L.,
Feldman, H.I.,
Goodkin, D.A.,
Gillespie, B., Wolfe, R.A.,
Held, P.J. and Port, F.K. (2004) Mortality
and Hospitalization in Haemodialysis Patients in Five European Countries:
Results from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 19,
108-120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfg483
Lafrance, J., Rahme, E., Iqbal, S., Leblanc, M., Pichette, V., Elftouh, N.
and Vallee, M. (2013) Magnitude of Discordance between
Registry Data and Death Certificate When Evaluating Leading Causes of Death in
Dialysis Patients. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 13, 51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-51
Fridkin, S.K.,
Pear, S.M.,
Williamson, T.H.,
Galgiani, J.N. and Jarvis, W.R. (1996) The
Role of Understaffing in Central Venous Catheter-Associated Bloodstream
Infections. Infection Control and Hospital
Epidemiology, 17, 150-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/30142373
Vicca, A.F. (1999) Nursing
Staff Workload as a Determinant of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus Spread
in an Adult Intensive Therapy Unit. Journal
of Hospital Infection, 43, 109-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/jhin.1999.0246
Harbarth, S.,
Sudre, P.,
Dharan, S.,
Cadenas, M. and Pittet, D.
(1999) Outbreak
of Enterobacter cloacae Related to Understaffing, Overcrowding, and Poor
Hygiene Practices. Infection
Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 20, 598-603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/501677
Arenas, M.D.,
Sanchez-Paya, J.,
Barril, G.,
Garcia-Valdecasas, J., Gorriz, J.L., Soriano, A., et al.
(2005) A Multicentric
Survey of the Practice of Hand Hygiene in Haemodialsis Units: Factors Affecting
Compliance. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 20,
1164-1171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfh759
Efstathiou, G., Papastavrou, E., Raftopoulos, V.
and Merkouris, A. (2011) Factors Influencing Nurses’ Compliance with
Standard Precautions in Order to Avoid Occupational Exposure to Microorganisms:
A Focus Group Study. BMC Nursing, 10, 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-10-1
Sax, H., Perneger, T.,
Hugonnet, S., Herrault, P.,
Chraiti, M.N. and Pittet, D. (2005) Knowledge
of Standard and Isolation Precautions in a Large Teaching Hospital. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 26, 298-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/502543
Oliveira, A.C.,
Cardoso, C.S. and Mascarenhas, D. (2010) Contact Precautions in Intensive Care Units:
Facilitating and Inhibiting Factors for Professionals’ Adherence. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 44, 161-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342010000100023
Madan, A.,
Raafat, A.,
Hunt, J.,
Rentz, D.,
Wahle, M. and Flint, L.
(2002)
Barrier Precautions in Trauma: Is Knowledge Enough? The Journal of Trauma Injury, Infection
and Critical Care, 52, 540-543. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005373-200203000-00020
Kelen, G.D.,
DiGiovanna, T.A.,
Celentano, D.D.,
Kalainov, D.,
Bisson, L.,
Junkins, E.,
Stein, A.,
Lofy, L.,
Scott, C.R. and Silvertson, K.J. (1990) Adherence to Universal (Barrier) Precautions
during Interventions on Critically Ill and Injured Emergency Department Patients. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndromes, 3, 987-994.
Pittet, D., Dharan, S., Touveneau, S., Sauvan, V.
and Perneger, T.V. (1999) Bacterial Contamination of the Hands of Hospital
Staff during Routine Patient Care. Archives of
Internal Medicine, 159, 821-826. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.159.8.821
CDC (2001) Recommendations
for Preventing Transmission of Infections among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 50,
1-43.
O’Grady, N.P., et al.
and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) (2011)
Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections,
2011. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, 83 p.
Karkar, A.,
Mandin Bouhaha, B. and Dammang, M.L.
(2014) Infection Control in Hemodialysis Units: A Quick Access to Essential Elements. Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and
Transplantation, 25, 496-519. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/1319-2442.132150
Pittet, D.,
Allegranzi, B.,
Sax, H.,
Dharan, S.,
Lúcia Pessoa-Silva, C., Donaldson, L.
and Boyce, J.M. (2006) Evidence-Based Model for Hand Transmission
during Patient Care and Role of Improved Practices. On Behalf of the WHO Global
Patient Safety Challenge
and World Alliance for Patient Safety. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 6, 641- 652. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(06)70600-4
Bauer, T.M.,
Ofner, E.,
Just, H.M.,
Just, H. and Daschner, F. (1990) An Epidemiological Study Assessing
the Relative Importance of Airborne and Direct Contact Transmission of
Microorganisms in a Medical Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Hospital Infection, 15, 301-309. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0195-6701(90)90087-5
Pittet, D. (2001) Improving Adherence to Hand Hygiene
Practice: A
Multidisciplinary Approach. Emerging Infectious
Diseases, 7,
234-240. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid0702.010217
Bhalla, A., Pultz, N.J., Gries, D.M., et al.
(2004) Acquisition of Nosocomial Pathogens on Hands after Contact with Environmental
Surfaces near Hospitalized Patients. Infection
Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 25, 164-167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/502369
Larson, E.A. (1988) Causal Link between Hand Washing and Risk of
Infection? Examination of the Evidence. Infection
Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 9, 28-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/30144131
Farrington, M., Ling, J., Ling, T.
and French, G.L. (1990) Outbreaks of Infection with
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus on Neonatal and Burn Units of a New Hospital. Epidemiology and Infection, 105, 215-228. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268800047828
Shimokura, G., Weber, D.J., Miller, W.C., Wurtzel, H.
and Alter, M.J. (2006) Factors Associated with Personal Protection
Equipment Use and Hand Hygiene among Hemodialysis Staff. American Journal of Infection Control, 34, 100- 107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2005.08.012
Kampf, G.
and Kramer, A. (2004) Epidemiologic Background of Hand Hygiene and
Evaluation of the Most Important Agents for Scrubs and Rubs. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 17, 863-893. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/CMR.17.4.863-893.2004
Boyce, J.M. and Pittet, D. (2002) Guideline
for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings:
Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory
Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 51, 1-44.
Arenas, D.,
Sanchez-Paya, J.,
Barril, G., García-Valdecasas, J.,
Gorriz, J.L.,
Soriano, A.,
Antolin, A.,
Lacueva, J., Garcia, S.,
Sirvent, A.,
Espinosa, A. and Angoso, M.
(2005) A Multicentric Survey of the Practice of Hand Hygiene in Haemodialysis
Units:
Factors Affecting Compliance. Nephrology
Dialysis Transplantation, 20, 1164-1171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfh759
WHO (2016) Save Lives: Clean Your Hands. Hand Hygiene in Outpatient
and Home-Based Care and Long-Term Care Facilities. A Guide to the Application
of the WHO Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement and the “My Five Mo- ments
of Hand Hygiene” Approach. WHO Library Catologuing-in-Publication Data. http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/EN_PSP_GPSC1_5May_2016/en/
Allegranzi, B., Gayet-Ageron, A., Damani, N., Bengaly, L., McLaws, M.L., Moro, M.L., Memish, Z., Urroz, O., Richet, H., Storr, J., Donaldson, L.
and Pittet, D. (2013) Global Implementation of WHO’s
Multimodal Strategy for Improvement of Hand Hygiene: A Quasi-Experimental Study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13,
843-851. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70163-4
Siegel, J.D.,
Rhinehart, E.,
Jackson, M.,
Chiarello, L.
and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (2007)
Guidelines for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in
Healthcare Settings. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/isolation2007.pdf
Lin, C.M., Wu, F.M., Kim, H.K., Doyle, M.P., Michael, B.S.
and Williams, L.K. (2003) A Comparison of Hand Washing
Techniques to Remove Escherichia Coli and Caliciviruses under Natural or
Artificial Fingernails. Journal of Food
Protection, 66, 2296-2301.
Edel, E.,
Houston, S.,
Kennedy, V. and LaRocco, M.
(1998) Impact of a 5-Minute Scrub on the Microbial Flora Found on Artificial,
Polished, or Natural Fingernails of Operating Room Personnel. Nursing Research, 47, 54-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00006199-199801000-00010
Pottinger, J., Burns, S.
and Manske, C. (1989) Bacterial Carriage by Artificial versus Natural
Nails. American Journal of Infection
Control, 17, 340-344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0196-6553(89)90003-5
Vanholder, R.,
Canaud, B.,
Fluck, R.,
Jadoul, M.,
Labriola, L.,
Mart-Monros, A.,
Tordoir, J. and Van Biesen, W. (2010) Diagnosis, Prevention and
Treatment of Haemodialysis Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSI): A Position Statement of European Renal Best
Practice (ERBP). NDT Plus, 3, 234-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndtplus/sfq041
Tordoir, J., Canaud, B., Haage, P., Konner, K., Basci, A., Fouque, D., Kooman, J., Martin-Malo, A., Pedrini, L., Pizzarelli, F., Tattersall, J., Vennegoor, M., Wanner, C., Wee, P. and Vanholder, R. (2007) EBPG
on Vascular Access. Nephrology Dialysis
Transplantation, 22, ii88-ii117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfm021
National Kidney Foundation (2006) KDOQI
Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Practice Recommendations: 2006
Updates:
Hemodialysis Adequacy, Peritoneal Dialysis Adequacy and Vascular Access. American
Journal of Kidney Diseases, 48, S1-S322.
National Kidney
Foundation (2001) KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines
for Vascular Access:
Updates 2000. American Journal of Kidney
Diseases, 37,
S137-S181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0272-6386(01)70007-8
Wiener-Well, Y.,
Galuty, M.,
Rudensky, B.,
Schlesinger, Y.,
Attias, D. and Yinnon, A.M.
(2011) Nursing and Physician Attire as Possible Source Of Nosocomial
Infections. American Journal of Infection
Control, 39, 555-559. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2010.12.016
Perry, C.,
Marshall, R. and Jones, E.
(2001) Bacterial Contamination of Uniforms. Journal
of Hospital Infection, 48, 238-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/jhin.2001.0962
Babb, J.R., Davies, J.G.
and Ayliffe, G.A. (1983) Contamination of Protective Clothing
and Nurses’ Uniforms in an Isolation Ward. Journal
of Hospital Infection, 4, 149-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0195-6701(83)90044-0
Fijan, S.
and Turk, S.S. (2012) Hospital Textiles, Are They a Possible Vehicle
for Hospital-Associated Infection? International
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 9,
3330-3343. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9093330
Wilson, J.A., Loveday, H.P., Hoffman, P.N.
and Pratt, R.J. (2007) Uniform: An Evidence Review of the Microbiological
Significance of Uniforms and Uniform Policy in the Prevention and Control of
Healthcare-Associated Infections. Report to the Department of Health (England). Journal of Hospital Infection, 66,
301-307. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2007.03.026
Dietze, B., Rath, A., Wendt, C.
and Martiny, H. (2001) Survival of MRSA on Sterile Goods
Packaging. Journal of Hospital Infection,
49,
255-261. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/jhin.2001.1094
Bond, W.W., Favero, M.S., Peterson, N.J., Gravell, C.R., Ebert, J.W.
and Maynhard, J.E. (1981) Survival of Hepatitis B Virus
after Drying and Storage for One Week. The
Lancet, 1, 550-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(81)92877-4
Ciesek, S.,
Friesland, M.,
Steinmann, J.,
Becker, B.,
Wedemeyer, H.,
Manns, M.P.,
Steinmann, J.,
Pietschmann, T. and Steinmann, E. (2010) How Stable Is the Hepatitis C Virus
(HCV)? Environmental Stability of HCV and Its Susceptibility to Chemical
Biocides. Journal of Infectious Diseases,
201, 1859-1866. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/652803
Tjotta, E., Hungnes, O.
and Grinde, B. (1991) Survival of HIV-I: Activity after Disinfection, Temperature and pH
Changes, or Drying. Journal of Medical
Virology, 35, 223-227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmv.1890350402
Cataňo, J.C.,
Echeverri, L.M. and Szela, C.
(2012) Bacterial Contamination of Clothes and Environmental Items in a
Third-Level Hospital in Colombia. Interdisciplinary
Perspectives on Infectious Diseases, 2012, Article ID: 507640.
Dancer, S.J. (2009) The Role of Environmental Cleaning in
the Control of Hospital-Acquired Infection. Journal
of Hospital Infection, 73, 378-385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2009.03.030
CDC (2008) Infection Control Requirements for Dialysis
Facilities and Clarification Regarding Guidance on Parenteral Medication Vials. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 57,
875-876.
Hoen, B., Paul-Dauphin, A., Hestin, D.
and Kessler, M. (1998) EPIBACDIAL: A
Multicenter Prospective Study of Risk Factors for Bacteremia in Chronic
Haemodialysis Patients. Journal of the
American Society of Nephrology, 9, 869-876.
Salzman, M.B.,
Isenberg, H.D. and Rubin, J.G. (1993)
Use of Disinfectants to Reduce Microbial Contamination of Hubs of Vascular
Catheters. Journal of Clinical
Microbiology, 31, 475-479.
Hess, S. and Bren, V. (2013)
Essential Components of an Infection Prevention Program for Outpatient Hemodialysis
Centers. Seminars in Dialysis, 26, 384-398. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sdi.12102
Garrick, R. and Morey, R. (2015)
Dialysis Facility Safety: Processes and Opportunities. Seminars in Dialysis, 28, 514- 524. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sdi.12395
Kapoian, T.,
Meyer, K.B. and Johnson, D.S.
(2015) Infection Prevention and the Medical Director: Uncharted Territory. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 10,
863-874. http://dx.doi.org/10.2215/CJN.06050614
Miller, H.M., Tong, A., Tunnicliffe, D.J., Campbell, D., Pinter, J., Commons, R.J., Athane, E., Craig, J.C., Gilroy, N., Green, J., Henderson, B., Howell, M., Stuart, R.L., Van Eps, C., Wong, M.G., De Zoysa, J.
and Jardine, M.J. (2016) Identifying and
Integrating Patient and Caregiver Perspectives for Clinical Practice Guidelines
on the Screening and Management of Infectious Microorganisms in Hemodialysis
Units. Hemodialysis International, Online.
Kidney International (2008) Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical
Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of
Hepatitis C in Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney
International, 73, S1-S99.