CDPHE Dialysis Infection Prevention Using CDC's Core Interventions

October 1, 2018

Patients who undergo dialysis treatment have an increased risk for getting an infection. Hemodialysis patients are at a high risk for infection because the process of hemodialysis requires frequent use of catheters or insertion of needles to access the bloodstream. Hemodialysis patients have weakened immune systems, which increase their risk for infection, and they require frequent hospitalizations and surgery where they might acquire an infection.

The Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition is a partnership of organizations and individuals that have joined forces with the common goal of promoting the use of Centers Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) core interventions and resources to prevent dialysis bloodstream infections. Launched in September 2016, the Coalition's goals are to:

- Facilitate implementation and adoption of core interventions through promotion, dissemination, and use of audit tools, checklists, and other resources  
- Increase awareness about the core interventions for dialysis bloodstream infection prevention through educational efforts 
- Share experiences and findings through collaboration with other Coalition participants 
These Core Interventions have been proven to reduce dialysis bloodstream infections (BSIs), visit: 
https://www.cdc.gov/dialysis/PDFs/Dialysis-Core-Interventions-5_10_13.pdf 

The audit tools and checklists below are intended to promote CDC-recommended practices for infection prevention in hemodialysis facilities. Individuals when assessing staff practices can use the audit tools and checklists. The audit tools can be used to help guide facility staff practices. Apply the CDC Core Interventions when using the audit tools and checklists by visiting: 
https://www.cdc.gov/dialysis/prevention-tools/audit-tools.html. 

If you have an upcoming training or would like a guest speaker to present on Infection Prevention in Dialysis Centers, CDC and Making Dialysis Safer resources and tools, or to discuss how we can work together in our common goal to reduce blood stream infections, please contact Sara Avalos (303) 691-7840 or  [email protected] Dialysis Infection Preventionist at CDPHE.