Preventing HAIs in Dialysis Patients

Bloodstream infections are a dangerous complication of dialysis. In the U.S., there are about 370,000 people relying on hemodialysis care. These patients are at risk of getting serious infections.

About 75,000 people receive hemodialysis through a central line. Central lines have a higher risk of infection than a fistula or graft. The CDC estimates that 37,000 central line-associated bloodstream infections may have occurred in U.S. hemodialysis patients in 2008.

It’s important for physicians, nurses, dialysis technicians, and all healthcare workers to understand and follow proper infection control procedures. The resources on this page are designed to help dialysis clinicians understand the basics of infection control. To learn more, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/dialysis/index.html.