Which water is used for reprocessing of medical devices?

Water is nonionic or neutral that does not conduct electricity. Alkaline and acid solvents can only eliminate compounds of the same pH, while water being neutral can dissolve solutions and compounds of any pH.

Drinking water purifies our body. Our body is made up of 73 percent water, and more than 80 percent of our blood and brain are water. As a solvent, water washes through our kidneys and takes all toxins out of our bodies. In short, without water we would be poisoned and ultimately die.

Water is very essential in all stages of medical device reprocessing. In fact, water is required inevery step in the decontamination process, from soaking to manual or automated cleaning to rinsing, including the final disinfecting rinse. Also even concentrated instrument cleaners consist mainly of water, the solvent for all chemicals in the solution.

Water which is safe to drink may not be acceptable for reprocessing or for the sterilization of surgical instruments. Water quality may vary from place to place and also according to the season of the year. Maximum public water systems include additives such as chlorine, dissolved salts and sometimes significant naturally occurring mineral content, and sometimes even organic contaminants, bacteria and endotoxins.

Depending on hardness of water and temperature, fresh water used can lead to the formation of hard water deposits, a layer of lime or scale that is difficult to get dissolved. And, hence corrosion may occur under these deposits. When water starts to evaporate, some substances may remain as visible mineral residues. Also, any procedure requiring water in its operation creates a potential hazard.

This is mostly true if water is not continually changed after use. The formation of Gram negative bacteria is supported by water bacteria. Calcium, magnesium and pH may stain devices and inactivate disinfectants. That’s the reason why distilled, reverse osmosis or deionized water is recommended for use. Tap water that is water which we get from taps directly is contaminated with toxic heavy metals, synthetic organic chemicals, chlorine, biological parasites and many other harmful contaminants.

Also, all the chemicals we use will ultimately show up in our tap water. There is no new water; our planet earth keeps on recycling the same water. Furthermore, water treatment facilities are not designed to eliminate organic chemicals and toxic heavy metals, like lead and zinc.

In recent years, there has been great awareness about the importance of water in the decontamination of surgical devices and the ill and harmful effects of even minute quantities of contaminants on patients. This is of particular concern as certain medical devices may direct contaminate the body that are normally protected by skin and mucous membranes. Metals, organic compounds, microorganisms and many other contaminants can lead to very badreactions. Also patients are mostly susceptible when surgical instruments bypass the body’s defenses.

From all this, we conclude that RO water & soft water is much better for reprocessing of medical devices.

For more info, contact Netsol Water.

Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.