Delistefani F, et al. - Via this retrospective analysis, researchers investigated factors that predict risk for catheter-related infections in patients receiving a permanent dialysis catheter, with a special focus on the importance of the CRP (C-reactive protein) value. They examined 130 patients with 151 permanent hemodialysis catheters implanted. Overall, researchers found 27 (17.9%) infections (systemic infection: 2.26 episodes/ 1,000 catheter days, local infection: 0.6 episodes/ 1,000 catheter days). Findings revealed no link between CRP-value at the time of implantation of a permanent hemodialysis catheter and development of early catheter related infections. The identified risk factors for infection were an individual history of catheter-related infection, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-carriage, and bacteremia or bacteriuria in the period of 3 months before catheter implantation.