Microbiological analysis of tunneled hemodialysis catheters isolated from patients receiving hemodialysis in Saskatchewan.

To compare the microbial communities inside hemodialysis catheters from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients to determine their differences. Catheters ( = 41) were removed from patients in the Saskatchewan Health Authority over an 18-month period. The catheter section inside the body was flushed and the contents were evaluated using culture-dependent and culture-independent analysis. All catheters were colonized by bacteria, with considerable overlap between groups based on microbial communities and the individual species detected. More Gram-negative species were detected by sequencing, whereas predominantly Gram-positive strains were cultured. Antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation was widespread and not correlated with either catheter group. Common pathogens were detected in each set of catheters, therefore predicting infections based on the microbiology is difficult.