title: Vascular access-related infections: definitions, incidence rates, and risk factors.
abstract: Hemodialysis is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality, often caused by infections. Infections account for approximately 15% of all deaths in this patient population (the second leading cause after cardiovascular events) and for about one-fifth of admissions. Approximately one-fourth of infection-related admissions are caused by dialysis-associated peritonitis or vascular access infection that may lead to such significant complications as endocarditis or death. Published studies that assessed the determinants of hemodialysis-related vascular infections reported inconsistent findings. Variations in the definitions of infection among these studies despite the existence of standard guidelines proposed by at least 3 major work groups may explain, at least in part, these inconsistencies. A comprehensive in-depth review of those studies is needed to examine the inconsistencies in the published results. We first revised the existing vascular access-related infection definitions, then conducted a narrative review of the published literature that examined predictors of vascular access-related infections, highlighting the heterogeneity in methods and findings. Better understanding of the risk factors for vascular access-related infections may inform efficacious prevention strategies and lead to early detection of infections and improved patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. jean-philippe.lafrance@mail.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lafrance
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rahme
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lelorier
authors.forename: Sameena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iqbal