Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety

View the recording from the December 6 webinar, "Hepatitis C Detection, Prevention, and Treatment" webinar here.

NTDS is pleased to present the Annual Report for Year 2 of the NTDS Project! To view the Report, click here.

Download the "Days Since Infection" Poster here.

NTDS Project Mission Statement

To enhance the quality of life for people with kidney failure by engaging nephrologists as team leaders in transformational change that continuously improves the safety of life sustaining dialysis.

NTDS' Targeting Zero Infections webinar series continued this month!

This month, NTDS continued its Targeting Zero Infections webinar series with its fifth webinar. This webinar was entitled: "Targeting Zero Infections: Hepatitis C Detection, Prevention, and Treatment", and was held on Thursday, December 6 at 12:00 PM ET.

Key webinar points included:

• Are you following best practices for monitoring and testing for hepatitis C in your dialysis facility?
• If you note a seroconversion, do you know who needs to be notified?
• You have a role in hepatitis treatment and prevention!

Download the webinar slides here.

Participants: CEs are available for physicians and nurses. To claim your credits,click here.

Promising Practice: KDIGO Hepatitis C in CKD Guidelines released

The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2018 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hepatitis C in Chronic Kidney Disease represents a complete update of the prior guideline published in 2008. This guideline is intended to assist the practitioner caring for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those who are on chronic dialysis therapy and individuals with a kidney transplant.

Resources

• KDIGO Guidelines: click here.
• The ABCs of Hepatitis: click here.
• Checklist: Dialysis Station Routine Disinfection: click here.
• CDC Guidelines, Recommendations, and Resources for Dialysis Safety: click here.
• Consumer Resource from the American Kidney Fund: Hepatitis C and Hemodialysis: click here.

[For additional information from the National Kidney Foundation on Hepatitis C, click here. (Image source: https://www.kidney.org/professionals/KDOQI/12-10-1603)]



Featured Partner: Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)

Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who play an integral role in the management of patients with kidney failure by delivering minimally invasive treatments with less risk, less pain, and less recovery time than traditional surgery. When there is a blockage preventing passage of urine from the kidney to the bladder, an interventional radiologist can place a percutaneous nephrostomy tube or ureteral stent to allow urine to flow from the kidney. For instances when patients require hemodialysis, an interventional radiologist can place a hemodialysis catheter or be part of a team that connects an AV fistula to blood vessels. (Source: https://www.sirweb.org/patients/kidney-failure/)

Here is a description of treatment options your interventional radiologist may offer:

• Percutaneous nephrostomy tube bypasses a blockage of the ureter (tube connecting the kidney and bladder) and directs urine into a bag outside of the body.
• Ureteral stent placement inserts a tiny mesh tube to bypass a blockage of the ureter, connecting the kidney and bladder.
• AV fistula is a connection between an artery and vein that gives an access point for dialysis.
• Hemodialysis catheter is a temporary access point to allow for dialysis when an AV fistula is not available

To learn more about the Society, or interventional radiology, click here.