Infection of AV fistula
Background
- Dialysis catheter–related bacteremia is common and potentially life-threatening
Clinical Features
- Often presents with signs of systemic sepsis (fever, hypotension, leukocytosis)
- Classic signs of pain, erythema, swelling, discharge from infected access are often missing
Differential Diagnosis
AV Fistula Complications
- Clotting of AV fistula
- Infection of AV fistula
- Hemorrhage of AV fistula
- Vascular insufficiency from AV fistula
- AV fistula aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm
- High-output heart failure from AV fistula
Workup
- Draw peripheral and catheter blood cultures simultaneously
- 4x higher colony count in catheter blood culture suggests catheter is source of bacteremia
Management
- Give vancomycin 1gm IV +/- gentamicin 100mg IV (if gram neg suspected)
- Do not remove dialysis patient's access
- Catheter is only removed if fever persists for 2-3d after antibiotics are started
Disposition
- Admit