Which signs suggest a catheter tunnel infection?

Which signs suggest a catheter tunnel infection?

• A. Redness along the tunnel, warmth, or drainage along the subcutaneous tunnel, fever, and malaise.
• B. Fever and malaise only.
• C. Pain along the tunnel.
• D. Dry skin at exit.

Answer: (A)

In peritoneal dialysis, a catheter tunnel infection spreads along the subcutaneous tract of the catheter. The strongest clue is inflammation along that tunnel itself, not just at the skin exit. Redness along the tunnel, warmth in the same area, and drainage that tracks along the subcutaneous tunnel point to infection of the tunnel. When a tunnel infection is involved, you often also see systemic signs such as fever and malaise because bacteria can enter the bloodstream from the infected tract. This combination—local signs along the tunnel plus possible fever and malaise—best fits tunnel infection, whereas fever and malaise alone don’t localize the problem, pain along the tunnel isn’t as specific, and dry skin at the exit doesn’t indicate infection of the tunnel.

In peritoneal dialysis, a catheter tunnel infection spreads along the subcutaneous tract of the catheter. The strongest clue is inflammation along that tunnel itself, not just at the skin exit. Redness along the tunnel, warmth in the same area, and drainage that tracks along the subcutaneous tunnel point to infection of the tunnel. When a tunnel infection is involved, you often also see systemic signs such as fever and malaise because bacteria can enter the bloodstream from the infected tract.

This combination—local signs along the tunnel plus possible fever and malaise—best fits tunnel infection, whereas fever and malaise alone don’t localize the problem, pain along the tunnel isn’t as specific, and dry skin at the exit doesn’t indicate infection of the tunnel.