[Septicemia in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis]

Between March 1982 and March 1986, 11 out of 72 patients (15%) undergoing chronic hemodialysis in a Tunisian hemodialysis unit developed septicaemia. The causative organism was a staphylococcus aureus in 8 patients, and the main portal of entry was the dialysis catheter (6/8). Septic pulmonary metastasis were observed in 3 cases. REmoval of the dialysis catheter and antibiotic therapy led to recovery in 7 cases. The 4 fatalities were attributed to respiratory failure in 3 cases and septic shock in one case. These results indicate that the prognosis of septicaemia in hemodialysis patients is poor.