title: Hemodialysis catheter-associated endocarditis: clinical features, risks, and costs.
abstract: Endocarditis associated with vascular access catheters for hemodialysis (HD) is a catastrophic but not widely appreciated phenomenon. Its current incidence, clinical outcome, and associated costs are not easily ascertained. Increasing use of tunneled catheters for HD access may result in a larger pool of patients at risk for endocarditis. We present two representative cases, review recent trends, and assess the current potential for additional cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandroni
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male