CDC Offers New Resources for Preventing Infections in Dialysis Patients

Infections are a leading cause of death in hemodialysis patients. Receiving safe care and avoiding infectious complications are of utmost importance to patients. Reducing infections requires diligence from both providers and patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing three new resources for preventing infections in dialysis patients: a Provider Training Video and accompanying Provider Poster and Patient Pocket Guide. Visit CDCs Dialysis Safety website to see these new materials.

- Provider Training Video: Preventing Bloodstream Infections in Outpatient Hemodialysis Patients: Best Practices for Dialysis Staff

The video is intended to be used by outpatient hemodialysis facilities as an educational tool to help remind their frontline staff, including technicians and nurses, about infection prevention measures. It can be used as an orientation video for new staff and as an annual in-service training tool to remind staff of proper protocols.

- Provider Poster: Put Together the Pieces to Prevent Infections in Dialysis Patients

The poster can be posted in staff lounges or on the treatment floor to serve as a reminder of the messages in the video and other important ways to prevent infections.

- Patient Pocket Guide: 6 Tips to Prevent Dialysis Infections

The patient pocket guide is intended to educate patients on ways they can help prevent infections and can be shared as part of an information packet or reviewed with them by clinical staff.

The poster and pocket guide are available for order through the CDC-INFO warehouse. The DVD will be available for order this week.

Visit CDCs Dialysis Safety website for additional infection prevention resources, including a free continuing education (CE) activity and several observation tools, checklist tools and protocols.