Introduction:
Emergence of newer pathogens with multi drug resistance causing catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSI) has wreaked havoc in dialysis population. Ubiquitous presence of these organisms in disinfectant solutions,surfaces and water in dialysis units can pose a hidden danger.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of positive blood cultures from Jan 2022 till May 2024 from dialysis access devices of hospitalized dialysis patients was done and data was analyzed.
Results:
Out of 231 positive blood cultures from dialysis access devices, 34 (14.7%) had uncommon organisms. Of these, 11/34 had negative blood culture from outside lab prior to hospitalisation
Sr.no. Name of uncommon organism No of pts.
1. Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia 7
2. Elizabethkingia meningoseptica 6
3. Burkholderia cepacia 5
4. Serratia Marcescens 4
5. Trichosporon species 3
6. Morganella morganii 2
7. Ralstonia Mannitolilytica 1
8. Klebsiella oxytoca 1
9. Streptococcus mitis 1
10. Candida stellatoidea 1
11. Sphingomonas paucimobilis 1
12. Geotrichum species 1
13. Candida parapsilosis 1
14. Chryseobacterium indologenes 1
86% TCC(n=28),100% non - tunnelled catheters (n=5), 100% CAPD catheter (n=1) needed removal.85% organisms showed resistance to higher antibiotics.4 patients died due to CRBSI .
Conclusions:
Active surveillance, high index of clinical suspicion and state of the art diagnostic facilities for identification of uncommon organisms is needed for early detection and timely management of CRBSI in dialysis patients.
I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.
I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.