Reduction in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia rates in patients receiving haemodialysis following alteration of skin antisepsis procedures

J Hosp Infect. 2016 Feb;92(2):191-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2015.10.022. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

Abstract

This study examined all cases of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) in the haemodialysis cohort at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia over a seven-year period. Midway through this period, antisepsis for arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) and central venous catheters (CVC) changed from 0.5% chlorhexidine solution to 2% chlorhexidine solution. Rates of SAB episodes were calculated using registry data. Trends in SAB over time were analysed using an interrupted regression analysis. Following the change to 2% chlorhexidine, average SAB rates decreased by 68%, and it is estimated that 0.111 cases of SAB/patient-year were prevented. CVC-related SAB rates remained low throughout. These results support the use of 2% chlorhexidine in skin antisepsis for patients with AVF.

Keywords: ANZDATA; Arteriovenous fistula; Central venous catheter; Chlorhexidine; Haemodialysis; Staphylococcus aureus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / administration & dosage
  • Antisepsis / methods*
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Bacteremia / epidemiology
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteremia / prevention & control*
  • Catheter-Related Infections / epidemiology
  • Catheter-Related Infections / microbiology
  • Catheter-Related Infections / prevention & control*
  • Chlorhexidine / administration & dosage
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Chlorhexidine