Vascular access infections in patients undergoing dialysis with special emphasis on the role and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus

Access-related infections are the most important causes of the loss of vasc ular access for dialysis. These infections also may lead devastating conseq uences, including sepsis with multiorgan failure; endocarditis; or metastat ic infections such as vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, or endopht halmitis. A small percentage of these complications are fatal; overall, dia lysis-related bloodstream infections are the second leading cause of death in patients undergoing hemodialysis, accounting for up to 10% of all deaths , and approximately three-fourths of all deaths caused by infection in pati ents undergoing dialysis. Moreover, vascular placement and complications ac count for approximately one fourth of all admissions and hospital days amon g patients on dialysis.