Hemodialysis catheter-related infections: Results of a tertiary care center study in Saudi Arabia

Background: Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is frequent causes of mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients, and the sensitivity pattern of antimicrobials varies across different dialysis centers. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the pattern of microbes grown from catheter sites, blood and the sensitivity pattern. The data could help in initiating an empiric antimicrobial therapy. Materials and Methods: This was an observational retrospective study at Regional Kidney Center at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, in the western region of Saudi Arabia. The data collected were related to patients’ demographics, etiology of renal failure, presence of comorbidities, site of catheter insertion, and duration. Furthermore, microbiological data including cultures from catheter sites, blood, and catheters’ tips and antibiotic sensitivity. Results: Data on 130 patients (66 females, 50.8%) undergoing hemodialysis from June 2017 to March 2018 were analyzed. The infection rate was 23.6% in this study. In all patients with CRBSI, the catheters were removed, and antibiotics given. The highest infection rates (38.4%) were noted with femoral vein inserted catheters. However, the clinical sepsis was more with jugular catheters. Staphylococcus aureus was prevalent organism, and cephalosporins had the highest sensitivity. Ten catheters found to be mal functional were replaced. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease patients with diabetes and ischemic heart disease were more prone to CRBSI. Femoral catheters had significantly higher infection rates. S. aureus was the most common type of isolated bacterial strain and cephalosporins showed the highest sensitivity for the isolated bacteria.

Efficacy of a Modified Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis Technique for Endovascular Treatment of Thrombosed Prosthetic Arteriovenous Grafts

OBJECTIVE: We applied a modified pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) technique to endovascular treatment of thrombosed arteriovenous (AV) grafts without the use of any mechanical thrombectomy devices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the PMT technique in the treatment of thrombosed AV grafts by analyzing the long-term patency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients with thrombosed AV grafts were treated with the PMT technique. AV graft surveillance to detect failing/failed access was followed by endovascular treatment. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success rates were 95% and 95%, respectively. The total number of thrombolysis sessions was 279. A post-intervention primary patency rate was 45% and 22% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. The secondary patency rate was 96% and 91% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. No major complications were noticed. CONCLUSION: The modified PMT technique is effective in endovascular treatment of thrombosed AV grafts.

Vascular Interventional Procedures Often Encountered by Primary Physicians

Among various vascular interventional procedures, there are some procedures of vascular recanalization often encountered by primary physicians in clinical practice. These are percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent application in the lower extremity ishemia, catheter-directed thrombolysis with PTA, stenting for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and interventional management of arteriovenous fistula and graft for hemodialysis access. PTA and stent are safe and effective treatment for iliac arterial stenosis and occlusion with a good long-term patency rate. Long-term effectiveness of femoropopliteal stent is yet to be determined. Catheter-directed thrombolysis is a new emerging vascular intervention for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis. May-Thurner syndrome can be effectively treated with thrombolysis in the iliofemoral vein followed by PTA ad stenting for the left iliac vein stenosis or occlusion. For the failing arteriovenous fistula or grafts in patients with hemodialysis, interventional radiologists can play an important role for the maintenance of the patency by percutaneous thrombolysis and balloon dilatation. It will be very helpful for the primary physicians to understand the role of the interventional radiologists and the indications, techniques, and results of those vascular interventional procedures often encountered in daily practice.