Federal health officials have released data that found dialysis patients are at higher risk if they’re people of color. Staph infections are infections found directly in one’s bloodstream and can be deadly. Dialysis consists of having bags of fluid put into people through needles. Infection is caused if bacteria were to get into your bloodstream from the needles. Although, race is not the only factor that contributes to these risks. But, it’s important to note that the risk of staff infection is 40% higher in patients of Mexican descent and 23% higher in those of African descent.
Some other factors contributing to needing dialysis would be environment, age, and sex. Considering the fact that most dialysis patients are minorities, the environment plays a big part. Due to certain habits, minorities have high stats of diabetes and obesity. These are the most common causes of kidney disease. Also, since dialysis is necessary for patients who might have failing kidneys the risk of infection has to be taken.
Statistics on Patients
As of now, it is found that patients who are on dialysis are 100 more likely to get an infection than if they didn’t use dialysis as a treatment. Hispanics are 40% more at risk than white patients and black patients are 23% more at risk. These minorities’ risks are even higher between the ages of 18 through 49. Although to some this might sound scary, rates of staff infections have dropped since about 2014. But, it’s also safe to know a lot of people are being affected by these infections
More than 800,000 Americans are living with kidney failure, and about 70% of these Americans are on dialysis. The majority of these patients live in high-poverty areas and are likely to have overcrowded households. Even though infection rates have gone down 40% since 2014 patients of color still make up the majority.
It’s also important to know that these infections can be treated if they occur. Unfortunately though since there is more than one type of infection that can come from these treatments some are immune to the antibiotics that are primarily used to treat them. Considering this some staph infections are considered deadly to the patient.
What Can be Done?
“Preventing staph bloodstream infections begins by detecting chronic kidney disease in its early stages to prevent or delay the need for dialysis,” said CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry. It’s better to treat things that can lead to kidney failure before it actually comes.
This includes managing diabetes and controlling high blood pressure. It is also important to educate patients on their options and their risks in advance of these consequences actually happening.
People also need to cater to patients by helping with transportation, educating people on insurance, and just general education on medical processes. We also need to inform people about how their lifestyles play a part.
They need to cut down on sodium and sugar. Once things like infection or kidney disease come they are hard or impossible to reverse. Medical workers should also recommend low-risk treatments. This would bring down the number of deaths from infection.
What Can Those at Risk do?
People also realize some responsibility is also on the potential and current patients. While eating is a bad habit that could potentially lead to kidney disease there are also other factors. Eating factors include a high intake of sodium and also sugar. But also behaviors like excessive smoking and those type of toxins can lead to kidney failure.
Raising blood pressure can also land someone in those positions at the hospital. It’s important to watch one’s stress levels, watch alcohol intake and also get enough physical activity in to keep blood pressure low.
Furthermore, everybody has to play a part in order to get these numbers on staph infections down. Patients have to put in the effort to care for their bodies and medical professionals should be on high alert to prevent something before it is something that has to be reversed.
By Cynthia Thomas
Sources:
NPR: Hispanic dialysis patients are more at risk for staph infections, the CDC says
CNBC: Hispanic dialysis patients face 40% higher risk of staph infection than whites, CDC says
WebMD: Blacks, Hispanics on Dialysis Have Higher Staph Infection Rates, CDC Says
