STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Black and Hispanic dialysis patients were more likely to suffer staph bloodstream infections compared to white patients, federal data shows.
Adults on dialysis for end-state kidney disease were overall 100 times more likely to experience staph infections than the rest of the United States population between 2017 and 2020, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.
The research underscores significant risks that come with the lifesaving treatment and the complications that occur with antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections.
“Preventing staph bloodstream infections begins by detecting chronic kidney disease in its early stages to prevent or delay the need for dialysis,” said CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry in a release.
About 37 million adults in the country are estimated to have chronic kidney disease and it is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
About 360 people begin dialysis treatment for kidney failure daily.
While dialysis is necessary to the treatment of kidney disease, germs, including staph, can get into a patient’s bloodstream through medical devices. Infections, some of which are resistant to common antibiotics, can become fatal.
Federal health officials said more than half of U.S. dialysis patients belong to a racial or ethnic minority group. Around 33% of people receiving dialysis treatment are Black and approximately 20% of dialysis patients are Hispanic.
Healthcare providers can reduce the risk of infection by using lower-risk alternatives that avoid central venous catheters — primary vectors of staph germs.
“Healthcare providers can promote preventative practices, including methods to manage diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as providing education on treatment options among all patients and particularly those at greatest risk, to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease,” said Houry.
A lack of preventative care for conditions like diabetes and high blood…
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