Symptomatic urinary tract infections in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

15 episodes of symptomatic urinary tract infection are described in 11 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The diagnosis was confirmed by clean-catch or simple voided urine samples where possible, urethral catheterization and bladder washout being used only in anuric patients. Treatment with oral antibiotics proved successful in 13 episodes but 2 patients with polycystic kidneys were admitted to hospital for intravenous therapy. Urinary tract infections are common in dialysis patients including those who are anuric, and patients with polycystic kidneys have an increased risk of serious complications.