In Reply to ‘Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients: The Role of Dialysis Providers’

We appreciate Dr Brown’s call1 for industry-wide improvements in hemodialysis catheter care and general infection prevention. Monitoring bloodstream infection rates, overall and by factors such as vascular access and pathogen type, can provide valuable insight to facilities as they strive to reduce infections. The preponderance of Gram-negative bacteria typically associated with water and plumbing2 helped focus our investigation on likely sources, ultimately leading us to wall boxes.3