OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the infection rate, etiologic agent, infectious complications and the double-lumen catheter permanence in one same period in alternating years. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out in the Center of Hemodiálysis of the Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto-SP. All patients who presented infection in the double-lumen catheter insertion site within the period of the survey were included. RESULTS: It was reported that of the 80 patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment in the first period, from January to June 2002, 21% of the patients were using catheter. Three years later, 186 patients were in the same conditions, and of these, 10.7% was being treated with catheter therapy. The bloodstream infections were reduced by 9.4% in the last period. Bacteremia was the main prevailing infectiou complication. The Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent etiologic agent and the average double-lumen catheter permanence time was of 43 days in both periods of the study. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that there was a significant improvement as for the infection indexes in that population.
Renal dialysis; Infection; Staphylococcus aureus; Catheters, indwelling
