Healthcare-Associated Infections: Dialysis Events

Infectious agent:  Healthcare-Associated Infections: Dialysis Events

Description of illness:  Dialysis is used to remove excess water and toxins from the blood in patients whose native kidneys have lost the ability to perform these functions. Outpatient dialysis centers have to report three types of dialysis events: intravenous antimicrobial start; positive blood culture; and pus, redness, or increased swelling at the vascular access site. The following measures are also generated from the reported data: bloodstream infection (BSI), local access site infection (LASI), access-related bloodstream infection (ARBSI), and vascular access infection (VAI).

This disease/condition should be reported through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).