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This article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal discusses access site-related infections in patients receiving dialysis. Infection is a leading cause of hospital admission and the second most common cause of death in these patients. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis access sites can serve as entry points for bacteremia and peritonitis. The incidence rates of these infections are 0.42 episodes per patient-year for hemodialysis-associated bacteremia and 0.3 episodes per patient-year for PD peritonitis. Staphylococcus species are the most common bacteria implicated in these infections, and empiric methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) coverage is recommended. Treatment includes antimicrobial therapy and possible line removal, and consultation with infectious disease specialists can aid in treatment decisions. Catheter removal is reserved for certain cases of peritonitis. [Extracted from the article]