| pubmed-article:3058170 | pubmed:abstractText | Epidemiologic investigations of bacteremia in dialysis patients by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified an association with the use of dialyzers disinfected with a specific chemical germicide. A collaborative study by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was conducted to determine the effect of dialyzer disinfectants on five types of dialyzer membranes: three cellulosic (Cuprophan, cellulose acetate, cuprammonium rayon); and two synthetic (polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile). The disinfectants tested were: 4% formaldehyde; Renalin; Cidex Dialyzer; Sporicidin HO; Warexin; and RenNew-D. Water was the control. Dialyzers were reprocessed up to 15 times. Each reprocessing consisted of rinsing, air-leak testing, filling with fresh disinfectant, and storing for 2 to 4 days. After 15 reprocessings or air-leak failure, each dialyzer was microbiologically challenged for membrane integrity. Membranes exposed to Renalin, Cidex Dialyzer, and water passed all tests. Cellulosic membranes exposed to Warexin failed all tests after 2 to 9 reprocessings. Cellulose acetate membranes exposed to Sporicidin HD failed microbiologic testing. One polysulfone dialyzer exposed to RenNew-D and one exposed to 4% formaldehyde failed microbiologic testing. These results and those obtained from epidemiologic studies suggest that membrane integrity testing (e.g. an air-leak test) should be an integral part of dialyzer reprocessing. | lld:pubmed |
