Evaluation of Physicochemical and Microbial Quality Control of Hemodialysis Machines Water in Hospitals

Background and Objectives: Water quality is important for preparation of dialysis solution due to its direct relationship with blood of patients with renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical and microbial quality of inlet and outlet water of dialysis devices in hospitals of East Azerbaijan province.
Material and Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical study in which the water of dialysis ward of three hospitals affiliated to East Azerbaijan University of Medical Sciences was investigated. The results of physicochemical (45 cases) and microbial (163 cases) of dialysis water were extracted from the relevant archives in two stages before and after reverse osmosis treatment during 2014-2016. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis while extracting descriptive statistical parameters. Data analysis was done using Excel and SPSS 23 software.
Results: Evaluation of the efficiency of reverse osmosis system showed that there was a significant difference between water quality, before and after the system. Except for calcium, magnesium, fluoride and nitrate, the concentrations of other cations and anions in 100% of samples were lower than the European Pharmacopoeia standard. Incoming water samples to dialysis machine in 4.9% of cases had total coliform contamination and there was no fecal coliform in any of the samples. The frequency and frequency of tests in hospitals are not observed and despite the risk of heavy metals, heavy metals tests are not performed on dialysis water for the health of dialysis patients.
Conclusion: The need to develop a national standard for controlling dialysis water, testing all quality parameters of dialysis water according to standards in regular times and timeframes, informing hospital managers and environmental health experts about the importance of dialysis water quality in health and increasing life expectancy of dialysis patients is felt.