Renal Business Today

Infection Control

Infections are the second leading cause of death among dialysis patients, according to the U.S. Renal Data System. Hand hygiene, as well as ensuring that surfaces, objects, devices and equipment are properly, disinfected and sterilized, is essential in preventing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) and ensuring the safety of dialysis patients and renal professionals.

Infections Are Not Inevitable

Infections are a leading cause of hospitalization and death in hemodialysis patients. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a particularly severe form of infection that can occur in these patients with devastating outcomes. For example, among patients with a Staphylococcus ...More
February 15, 2013
Posted in Articles, Practice Management
A Breast Cancer Survivor Puts Her Fashion Foot Forward to Fight Off Infections

Did you know that there are different types of bacteria in our tap water? People take daily showers with tiny molecules of bacterium swimming around them. Sounds bad right? ...More
November 26, 2012
Posted in Articles, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
The Challenges in Cleaning and Disinfection of Contaminated Surfaces in the Dialysis Setting

Every nurse, dialysis technician, renal dietician, social worker and physician intends to do no harm to their patients. The very avoidable and preventable issues with lapses in infection control practices have a high potential of harming our patients and is an area that is ...More
October 24, 2012
Posted in Articles, Practice Management
Healionics Receives Grant for Preclinical Study of Anti-Infective Sleeve for Hemodialysis Catheters

SEATTLE—Healionics Corporation received a $909,165 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for preclinical studies to advance STARcuff, a STAR ...More
September 20, 2012
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma, Practice Management
Antibiotic Often Used in ESRD May Not Be Optimal

WALTHAM, Mass.—The antibiotic most commonly prescribed for some bloodstream infections in dialysis patients may not be the best choice, reported MedPage Today. ...More
August 17, 2012
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma
E. Coli Outbreak Sickens 68 People, 3 in Serious Condition

DAYTON, OH—Three people are listed in serious condition after they were hospitalized in connection with an E. coli outbreak apparently linked to a July 3 picnic in Germantown. ...More
July 17, 2012
Posted in News, Practice Management
Collaboration to Improve Infection Control Outcomes

Infections are a major problem in the hemodialysis patient population. They are the second leading cause of death in these patients and impose a significant burden on the healthcare system. ...More
June 12, 2012
Posted in Articles, Practice Management
New Program Requires Dialysis Patient Reports

In order to prevent dialysis patients from disease and infection, the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System (ESRD) is making hemodialysis event reports mandatory under the Quality Incentive Program (QIP). ...More
June 11, 2012
Posted in Articles, Government & Regulation
Infections May Be Deadly for Many Dialysis Patients

WASHINGTON—An infection called peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). ...More
May 25, 2012
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma
Hospital Infections Linked to Readmissions

CHICAGO—Two areas commonly targeted for quality improvement—readmissions and healthcare-associated infections—are strongly linked to one another, according to newly published research. ...More
May 7, 2012
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma