| Theme |
Dealing with infections in hemodialysis facilities |
| Title |
Patients undergoing hemodialysis can be viewed as immunocompromised hosts |
| Author |
Eiichi Osono |
Department of Dialysis Center, Shin-Ei Kai Koshigaya Ohbukuro Clinic |
| [ Summary ] |
Patients undergoing hemodialysis show lower levels of both, humoral and cellular immunity; thus, the antibody acquisition rate following vaccination is lower than that observed in healthy individuals with normal renal function. These patients show a negative tuberculin reaction with an increase in the prevalence rate of tuberculosis. A statistical survey demonstrated that infectious diseases accounted for the second most common cause of death-pneumonia accounting for approximately 50 % and septicemia for 40 % of the cases. Furthermore, 40 % of pneumonia and 75 % of sepsis cases were attributable to infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant organisms. The most important disorder of biological defense related to vital prognosis from bias of infectious disease causative bacteria is thought to be a decline in the phagocytic function of microorganisms and breakdown of skin defense. Adequate sanitization measures need to be adopted in those undergoing hemodialysis in addition to methods to eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization. |