Water quality of hemodialysis systems at Intensive Care Unit

There are rules and regulations for assessment of water quality services in ambulatory care unit and specific recommendations for the procedures performed in intensive care units (ICU) services. An exploratory study was conducted at hemodialysis equipment in ICU in a Southern Brazil city. Water samples were directly collected from the network public supply and from post-reverse osmosis associated with hemodialysis equipaments, monthly from January to June 2011. Mass spectrometry technique (quadrupolar type), associated with a source of inductive coupling plasma (ICP/MS) was applied to measure water trace metals levels. Bacteriological analyzes were performed to search for heterotrophic bacteria. Data showed that the metal concentrations in the purified water of hemodialysis centers did not exceed legal standards. The bacteriological analysis of water for hemodialysis systems resulted as < 200 CFU/mL, according to legal limits in all evaluated months, with an exception on February. The results corroborate the fact that maintenance and precaution with the hemodialysis water are being effective. The avoidance of complications arising from chemical or microbiologic water contaminants, in ICU requires a constant attention, since patients conditions are different from those found in outpatient care.