A cluster of gram-negative bloodstream infections in Connecticut hemodialysis patients associated with contaminated wall boxes and prime buckets.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk of bloodstream infections (BSI). We investigated a cluster of Delftia acidovorans infections among patients undergoing HD at an outpatient unit (Facility A). METHODS: A case was defined as a Facility A HD patient with ≥1 culture positive for D acidovorans between February 1 and April 30, 2018. An investigation included review of patient records, facility policies, practice observations, and environmental cultures. RESULTS: The cluster included 2 patients with confirmed D acidovorans BSI. Both patients had recently been dialyzed at Station #2, where a wall box culture yielded D acidovorans. One patient also had a BSI due to Enterobacter asburiae, which was recovered from several other wall boxes and saline prime buckets (SPB). Observations revealed leakage of wastewater from wall boxes onto the floor, and that SPBs were not always disinfected and dried appropriately before reuse. Multiple deficiencies in hand hygiene and station disinfection were observed. No deficiencies in water treatment practices were identified, and water cultures were negative for the observed pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: The cluster of D acidovorans infections was most likely due to indirect exposures to contaminated wall boxes and possibly SPBs due to poor hand hygiene and station disinfection.

Weil's Disease in an HIV-Infected Patient.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by the spirochete Leptospira. Most cases of leptospirosis are mild to moderate and self-limited. The course of disease, however, may be complicated by multiorgan dysfunction with liver and kidney failure causing Weil's disease. Leptospirosis is also rare among HIV-infected patients. We report a case of an HIV-infected patient with Weil's disease.

Risk of Vascular Access Infection Associated With Buttonhole Cannulation of Fistulas: Data From the National Healthcare Safety Network.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Compared with conventional (rope-ladder cannulation [RLC]) methods, use of buttonhole cannulation (BHC) to access arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) may be associated with increased risk for bloodstream infection and other vascular access-related infection. We used national surveillance data to evaluate the infection burden and risk among in-center hemodialysis patients with AVFs using BHC. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of infections and related events and retrospective observational cohort study using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance data. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: US patients receiving hemodialysis treated in outpatient dialysis centers. PREDICTORS: AVF cannulation methods, dialysis facility characteristics, and infection control practices. OUTCOMES: Access-related bloodstream infection; local access-site infection; intravenous (IV) antimicrobial start. ANALYTIC APPROACH: Description of frequency and rate of infections; adjusted relative risk (aRR) for infection with BHC versus RLC estimated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: During 2013 to 2014, there were 2,466 access-related bloodstream infections, 3,169 local access-site infections, and 13,726 IV antimicrobial starts among patients accessed using BHC. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen, present in half (52%) of the BHC access-related bloodstream infections. Hospitalization was frequent among BHC access-related bloodstream infections (37%). In 2014, 9% (n=271,980) of all AVF patient-months reported to NHSN were associated with BHC. After adjusting for facility characteristics and practices, BHC was associated with significantly higher risk for access-related bloodstream infection (aRR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.4-2.8) and local access-site infection (aRR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.4-1.6) than RLC, but was not associated with increased risk for IV antimicrobial start. LIMITATIONS: Data for facility practices were self-reported and not patient specific. CONCLUSIONS: BHC was associated with higher risk for vascular access-related infection than RLC among in-center hemodialysis patients. Decisions regarding the use of BHC in dialysis centers should take into account the higher risk for infection. Studies are needed to evaluate infection control measures that may reduce infections related to BHC.

Hepatitis B Virus Mutant Infections in Hemodialysis Patients: A Case Series.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in hemodialysis units has become a rare event since implementation of hemodialysis-specific infection control guidelines: performing hemodialysis for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients in an HBV isolation room, vaccinating HBV-susceptible (HBV surface antibody and HBsAg negative) patients, and monthly HBsAg testing in HBV-susceptible patients. Mutations in HBsAg can result in false-negative HBsAg results, leading to failure to identify HBsAg seroconversion from negative to positive. We describe 4 unique cases of HBsAg seroconversion caused by mutant HBV infection or reactivation in hemodialysis patients. STUDY DESIGN: Following identification of a possible HBsAg seroconversion and mutant HBV infection, public health investigations were launched to conduct further HBV testing of case patients and potentially exposed patients. A case patient was defined as a hemodialysis patient with suspected mutant HBV infection because of false-negative HBsAg testing results. Confirmed case patients had HBV DNA sequences demonstrating S-gene mutations. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Case patients and patients potentially exposed to the case patient in the respective hemodialysis units in multiple US states. RESULTS: 4 cases of mutant HBV infection in hemodialysis patients were identified; 3 cases were confirmed using molecular sequencing. Failure of some HBsAg testing platforms to detect HBV mutations led to delays in applying HBV isolation procedures. Testing of potentially exposed patients did not identify secondary transmissions. LIMITATIONS: Lack of access to information on past HBsAg testing platforms and results led to challenges in ascertaining when HBsAg seroconversion occurred and identifying and testing all potentially exposed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Mutant HBV infections should be suspected in patients who test HBsAg negative and concurrently test positive for HBV DNA at high levels. Dialysis providers should consider using HBsAg assays that can also detect mutant HBV strains for routine HBV testing.

Transmission of hepatitis C virus in the dialysis setting and strategies for its prevention.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is more common among hemodialysis patients than the general population and transmission of HCV in dialysis clinics has been reported. In the context of the increased morbidity and mortality associated with HCV infection in the end stage renal disease population, it is important that dialysis clinics have processes in place for ensuring recommended infection control practices, including Standard Precautions, through regular audits and training of the staff. This review will summarize the epidemiology of HCV infection and risk factors for HCV transmission among hemodialysis patients. In addition, the proper protocols are required to investigate suspected cases of HCV transmission in dialysis facilities and recommendations for prevention of HCV transmission in will be reviewed.

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Event Surveillance Report for 2014.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Persons receiving outpatient hemodialysis are at risk for bloodstream and vascular access infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts surveillance for these infections through the National Healthcare Safety Network. We summarize 2014 data submitted to National Healthcare Safety Network Dialysis Event Surveillance. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Dialysis facilities report three types of dialysis events (bloodstream infections; intravenous antimicrobial starts; and pus, redness, or increased swelling at the hemodialysis vascular access site). Denominator data consist of the number of hemodialysis outpatients treated at the facility during the first 2 working days of each month. We calculated dialysis event rates stratified by vascular access type (e.g., arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous graft, or central venous catheter) and standardized infection ratios (comparing individual facility observed with predicted numbers of infections) for bloodstream infections. We described pathogens identified among bloodstream infections. RESULTS: A total of 6005 outpatient hemodialysis facilities reported dialysis event data for 2014 to the National Healthcare Safety Network. These facilities reported 160,971 dialysis events, including 29,516 bloodstream infections, 149,722 intravenous antimicrobial starts, and 38,310 pus, redness, or increased swelling at the hemodialysis vascular access site events; 22,576 (76.5%) bloodstream infections were considered vascular access related. Most bloodstream infections (63.0%) and access-related bloodstream infections (69.8%) occurred in patients with a central venous catheter. The rate of bloodstream infections per 100 patient-months was 0.64 (0.26 for arteriovenous fistula, 0.39 for arteriovenous graft, and 2.16 for central venous catheter). Other dialysis event rates were also highest among patients with a central venous catheter. Facility bloodstream infection standardized infection ratio distribution was positively skewed with a median of 0.84. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated bloodstream infection pathogen (30.6%), and 39.5% of S. aureus isolates tested were resistant to methicillin. CONCLUSIONS: The 2014 National Healthcare Safety Network Dialysis Event data represent nearly all United States outpatient dialysis facilities. Rates of infection and other dialysis events were highest among patients with a central venous catheter compared with other vascular access types. Surveillance data can help define the epidemiology of important infections in this patient population.

Multistate US Outbreak of Rapidly Growing Mycobacterial Infections Associated with Medical Tourism to the Dominican Republic, 2013-2014(1).

During 2013, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in Baltimore, MD, USA, received report of 2 Maryland residents whose surgical sites were infected with rapidly growing mycobacteria after cosmetic procedures at a clinic (clinic A) in the Dominican Republic. A multistate investigation was initiated; a probable case was defined as a surgical site infection unresponsive to therapy in a patient who had undergone cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic. We identified 21 case-patients in 6 states who had surgery in 1 of 5 Dominican Republic clinics; 13 (62%) had surgery at clinic A. Isolates from 12 (92%) of those patients were culture-positive for Mycobacterium abscessus complex. Of 9 clinic A case-patients with available data, all required therapeutic surgical intervention, 8 (92%) were hospitalized, and 7 (78%) required ≥3 months of antibacterial drug therapy. Healthcare providers should consider infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria in patients who have surgical site infections unresponsive to standard treatment.

Dialysis Event Surveillance Report: National Healthcare Safety Network data summary, January 2007 through April 2011.

A total of 24,092 adverse events in hemodialysis outpatients during January 2007 through April 2011 were reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network. Of 2,656 bloodstream infections, 67.3% were in patients with central venous catheters. For all events, rates associated with central venous catheters were higher than for other vascular access types.

Completeness of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection Reporting From Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities to the National Healthcare Safety Network, 2013.

Reports of bloodstream infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among chronic hemodialysis patients to 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance systems (National Healthcare Safety Network Dialysis Event and Emerging Infections Program) were compared to evaluate completeness of reporting. Many methicillin-resistant S. aureus bloodstream infections identified in hospitals were not reported to National Healthcare Safety Network Dialysis Event.