Abstract
The frequency and characteristics of urinary tract infection (UTI) in 236 maintenance hemodialysis patients were studied.
In one year, UTI accompancied by subjective symptoms was observed in 42 cases or 17.8% of the total, which was roughly equal to the rate of incidence of infections of other organs. When cases of pyuria only, not accompanide by subjective symptoms, were added, the frequency was as high as 76 cases or 32.2% of the total.
Maintenance hemodialysis patients possess a few unfavorable factors which may account for the occurrence of UTI, but frequently the causative disease, therapy, examination procedure, etc. causes the infection. For example, in the case of diabetic nephropathy, a neurogenic bladder due to diabetes mellitus and in the case of polycystic kidney, obstruction of the upper urinary tract or infection of the cyst caused by the cyst itself may be the cause, while such other factors as catheterization or administration of steroids may also be responsible. For the patients carrying these factors, the onset of UTI may trigger a worsening of the general condition and therefore early diagnosis and early therapy with sufficient vigilance are required.
