Incidence, microbiological aspects and associated risk factors of catheter-related bloodstream infections in adults on chronic haemodialysis at a tertiary hospital in Uganda

OBJECTIVES: The high burden of infectious complications among patients receiving haemodialysis (HD) via central venous catheters increases morbidity and mortality. This study determined the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), microbiological profile of causative organisms, and associated predictors in patients on chronic HD. METHODS: A prospective single-centre cohort study of 121 adult patients with end-stage kidney disease was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine predictors of CRBSI. RESULTS: The mean age was 50 (standard deviation 14.9) years and the median duration of follow-up was 69 (interquartile range 23–124) days. At least one CRBSI was recorded for 41% of patients, at a rate of 5.2 infections per 1000 patient-days. Causative organisms were predominantly Gram-negative bacteria (60.3%), and 36.5% of all isolates were multi-drug resistant. Anaemia [hazard ratio (HR) 5.44, P=0.019, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–22.48] and previous bloodstream infection [HR 2.47, P=0.028, 95% CI 1.10–5.54] were predictors of CRBSI. CONCLUSION: The high incidence of CRBSI in patients on chronic HD with predominance of Gram-negative bacteria means that catheter care bundles should include Gram-negative coverage.