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Despite advances in dialysis-related technology and documented improvements in many processes of care over the last decade, chronic dialysis patients in the US continue to have poor outcomes compared to other industrialized nations.

Evidence suggests that infection control guidelines are not uniformly practiced in US dialysis facilities.

In 2007, 12% of US dialysis patients were hospitalized due to septicemia and 16% of all deaths were attributable to an infectious cause. Many of these infections are preventable through the use of evidence-based infection control practices.

Project Facts

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has awarded a 2-year contract to the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) and its partners, the University of Michigan, Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UM-KECC), and the Renal Network of the Upper Midwest, Inc. (ESRD Network 11) to implement and use resources that will reduce infections in dialysis facilities.

The goal of the project is to reduce vascular access infections, enhance infection control best practices among clinicians, and improve safety culture using the CUSP framework.

Project Timeline