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\nEveryone has a role to play in preventing infections and improving dialysis patient safety. You can be a safe patient and take action to help prevent infections.
\nYour kidneys play a vital role in cleaning your blood, eliminating waste from your body, and supporting other important functions. Dialysis is a medical treatment for people with kidney failure or kidneys that do not work properly, but it is not a cure to restore kidney function.
\nThere are several different dialysis treatment options which include:
\nEach treatment option has varying risks for infection. It is important to discuss the different treatment options with your doctor and decide which is best based on your individual needs.
\nA vein access, also known as a vascular access, is needed to move blood between your body and the dialysis machine during hemodialysis treatments. An arteriovenous (AV) fistula or graft should be placed before hemodialysis treatments begin. However, if you have damaged veins and arteries, this type of access may not be possible and a central line catheter may be used. Central line catheters are designed for short-term use and can be placed quickly.
\nAny of the three access types (AV Fistula, AV Graft, or central line catheter) could develop an infection, but AV fistulas have the lowest risk of infection, while central line catheters have the highest risk of infection.
\nArteriovenous (AV) Fistula: an access created by joining an artery and vein, typically in the arm. This access type lasts longer than a graft and is less likely to become infected.
\nArteriovenous (AV) Graft: an access created when doctors put in a tube that connects an artery and vein. This access type has a higher risk of infection than an AV fistula, but lower than a central line catheter.
\nCentral Line Catheter: an access created by inserting a tube into a vein. The tube is inserted through the skin into a vein in the neck, chest, or groin and the tip of the tube ends near the heart. This access type has the highest risk of infection.
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Infections caused by viruses are also a concern for people receiving dialysis. Viruses in the blood spread when an infected persons blood enters the body of someone who is not infected. This could happen in a variety of ways, including through surfaces and equipment in the dialysis facility. Symptoms of viral infections vary. Examples of viral infections are:
\nPeople receiving dialysis may also be at risk for infections that are not related to the blood and can lead to serious outcomes. These infections may include intestinal and respiratory infections such as:
\n \nYou can be a safe patient and take action to help prevent infections.
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