title: A new central supply system as alternative source for bicarbonate dialysate.
abstract: Bicarbonate dialysis is mandatory for high efficiency treatment. In most cases bicarbonate is delivered either as prepacked powder or as a stable liquid concentrate in 6-10 I plastic containers. With a newly designed central supply system (CSS) using 800 I tanks of custom-made sterile and pyrogen free concentrates, we investigated the risk of bacterial contamination of dialysate in a 30-bed dialysis unit. During three months, samples of reverse osmosis (RO) water, concentrates and dialysate were taken every two weeks. Colony forming units (CFU) were counted after 48 h incubation. Further samples were taken during nine months of continuous use of the CSS without further intermittent disinfection. None of the samples had greater than 10/ml CFU. Pseudomonas, corynebacteria and enterobacter were the predominant species. In summary, this CSS proved reliable in providing bacteriologically safe bicarbonate dialysate as defined by international standards (CFU less than 200/ml). It significantly reduces costs, workload and environmental pollution by plastic waste.
authors.affiliation: Nephrologisches Institut, Westfälischen Wilhelms Universität Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rehmert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Böcker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raidt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Graefe
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001639:Bicarbonates; D003956:Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D015314:Dialysis Solutions