EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL SEPTICEMIA IN CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

In an adult nephrology and dialysis center, 62 staphylococcal septicemia occurred in 49 chronic hemodialysis patients, from January 1983 to December 1989. Patients mean age was 50 years (SD = 14.4, range 19-83). S. aureus (SA) and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were responsible for 54 and 8 septicemia respectively. 48 of 54 SA and 7 of 8 CNS were sensitive to methicillin. Catheter-related septicemia were more often due to CNS (6/8 vs 14/54, p < 0.05). Conversely, angio-access-related septicemia were more often due to SA (32/54 vs 0/8, p < 0,01). Nine patients developed a metastatic localization (4 endocarditis, 6 osteoarthritis); all of them had SA septicemia, whereas none with CNS septicemia had a metastatic localization (p < 0.05). In the same way, the 4 patients who died had SA septicemia. In chronic hemodialysis patients, septicemia due to SA remain more frequent and more severe than those due to CNS.