Clinician Education

Assess staff upon hire and at least yearly in the following competencies (Note: not all categories will be applicable to all staff):

Gloving and hand hygiene (all staff) – includes recognition of appropriate situations for glove use/hand hygiene, proper use and removal of gloves, and proper hand hygiene technique.

Catheter dressing change technique – includes correct performance of hand hygiene, and use of gloves, and correct use of antiseptics (proper application and allow drying, etc).

Vascular access technique – includes correct performance of hand hygiene and use of gloves, catheter site and port/vascular access antisepsis, and aseptic technique.

Safe injection/safe medication practices – includes proper technique for

• parenteral medication preparation, handling, administration and storage (e.g., not in patient station, etc.)
• use of aseptic technique,
• proper hand hygiene before preparing or administering medications or infusions
• proper cleansing of medication injection ports and medication vial diaphragms.
• proper use and handling of single use vials and bags.

Patients with catheters:

• Hand hygiene
• General access care at home (e.g., bathing with a catheter)
• Signs and symptoms of infection
• How to respond if problems with catheter develop outside of the dialysis center
• Risks associated with catheters/importance of permanent access
• Basic infection control practices during catheter accessing process (as a means to engage patients)

Patients with other access types:

• Hand hygiene
• Washing the access site prior to treatment
• General access care at home (e.g., don’t scratch or pick at the site)
• Signs and symptoms of infection
• How to respond if problems with access develop outside of the dialysis center
• Basic infection control practices during cannulation process (as a means to engage patients)

The Prevention Tools page has tools and checklists to improve infection prevention.

Visit the Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Resource Center to order complimentary copies of audit tools and checklists.

In partnership with CDC, Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety (NTDS) has created an online resource which presents core infection prevention and patient safety concepts in a case-based format.

This module, Managing Infections in an Outpatient Dialysis Facility, is a self-paced learning tool designed specifically for staff in outpatient hemodialysis facilities. It focuses on key infection prevention techniques and patient safety concepts. The module runs approximately 90 minutes in total length; it may be watched at intervals as your schedule allows.

CDC has created a video for frontline dialysis staff along with an accompanying poster for staff and pocket card for patients that convey best practices for preventing bloodstream and other infections in hemodialysis outpatients. Use as an educational tool in hemodialysis facilities as orientation for new staff or annual in-service training.

This 11×17 wall poster is a visual reminder of measures that staff can take to reduce infection in dialysis patients. The elements include Engage Patients, Reduce Catheters, Perform Hand Hygiene and Change Gloves, Catheter Care, Vaccinate Staff and Patients, Disinfect the Dialysis Station, Track Infections, Follow Safe Injection Practices, and Use Aseptic Technique.

Download file:
Standard Version [PDF – 535 KB]
Spanish Version [PDF – 498 KB]
Print Version [PDF – 1.8 MB]

Injection Safety Resources

Healthcare providers can understand safe injection practices by viewing this unique animated video. This video highlights the importance of using single-dose vials one time for one patient by following the story of Joe, a patient who ended up in the hospital with an infection as a result of unsafe injection practices. Visit the One & Only Campaign webpage to learn more.

Clean hands count for dialysis care. This brochure [PDF – 2 pages], specific to dialysis care, provides tips to protect yourself and your patients from potentially deadly germs.  Visit the Clean Hands Count webpage for stickers, posters and pocket cards.