Özet:

Objective: Infections represent a serious complication among the haemodialysis patients. More than two - thirds of these infections in haemodialysis patients were related to intravascular catheterizations. We prospectively evaluated catheter related infections in the haemodialysis patients with this study. Patients-Methods: Eighty-seven central venous catheter tips were collected from 77 haemodialysis patients during a one year period. Catheters were cultured by the semiquantitative method described by Maki et al. Results: Local catheter related infection was diagnosed in 20 (23%) cases, catheter related bacteremia was diagnosed in 13 (15.6%) cases, catheter related sepsis was diagnosed in 5 (5.7%) cases according to the clinical findings and semiquantitative catheter culture method results. None of the patients was diagnosed as catheter related endocarditis or as catheter related metastatic infections. The Coagulase Negative Staphylococci were the most frequently isolated pathogen (25.7%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (24.3%) and Gram negative bacteria (34%). The prolonged catheterization is a significant risk factor for catheter related infection. Conclusion: It is concluded from the study that, the goal of the physician is to prevent catheter related infections, many of which are potentially preventable. Treatment must be individualized for each patient on the basis of the clinical presentation and the causative agent. Key Words: Haemodialysis, Central venous catheter, Infection.

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