Infections from temporary catheters in hemodialysis patients in Kosovo

The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of infections from central venous temporary catheters and the type of a microorganism caused, from January 2017 up to December 2019. This study was performed on patients who were on hemodialysis (HD) through the central temporary venous catheter, right and left femoral vein, right jugular vein, and right subclavian vein.The patients in the HD center in Pristina, Kosovo, were used as a clinical sample. In this study, 1902 patients with temporarily central venous catheters (CVCs) were involved, while the control group consisted of 642 patients. Both groups were matched for age and gender. In all patients and the subjects of the control group, following data were obtained: Anamnesis, medical examination, as well as biochemical and hematological laboratory tests, CVC swab and antibiogram and hemoculture. Data analysis was performed using the descriptive statistical methods and the Chi-square test comparing the laboratory results of a HD patients treated through the central temporary venous catheter. Based on the results of this research, higher incidence of infections occurred with femoral vein access, compared to other CVCs accesses. The most common microorganisms responsible were Staphylococus epidermidis, while the 2019 had the highest incidence of infection.