A Study on Bacteriological Profile of Blood Culture Sample from Dialysis Patients

Abstract

Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are reasons for chronic glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, chronic interstitial nephritis, and vasculitis. Dialysis is lifesaving for kidney malfunctioned patients, and in the absence of this intervention, kidneys no longer function resulting in the death of the patients due to electrolyte abnormalities and build up of toxins in the blood stream. Coinfection with other bacterial or fungal organisms is observed more frequently in dialysis failure patients. The study population had a total of 144 adult dialysis subjects comprising 78 male (55%) and 66 female (45%). Among them, blood samples of 32 patients (22% of total study population) were found to be infected with pathogenic bacteria as these samples were positive to culture. All these isolates were distinguished at the species level. Finally, it is concluded that the dialysis patients have to be often screened and diagnosed for bacterial infections. Broad spectrum of antibiotics may be prescribed if symptoms of bacterial infections suspected before diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis with prescription of appropriate dose of drugs will not only enable to avoid the morbidity of bacterial infections but also prevent the infection associated complications and thereby reduce the mortality.