How is exit-site infection severity categorized?

• A. Mild (erythema without drainage), moderate (erythema with drainage or tenderness), severe (systemic signs or spreading infection)
• B. Mild to severe based on fever only
• C. Only one category
• D. Not categorized

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is that exit-site infection does not have a single universal severity scale used across all PD programs. Clinicians assess an exit-site infection by looking at local signs at the exit (redness, drainage, tenderness) and by noting any systemic or spreading signs, then make management decisions based on the overall clinical picture rather than fitting the infection into a predefined grade. Because there isn’t a universally standardized set of categories that every program uses, the question’s answer reflects that lack of a universal categorization. In practice, you monitor for progression and systemic involvement and treat promptly, rather than applying a fixed mild/moderate/severe label.