The Principles of Medical Device Decontamination

Good practice for final rinse water treatment plant procurement

• Measure the quality of the raw water that will be supplying the plant before purchasing water treatment or water - using decontamination equipment and examine the results. • Instruct the prospective water treatment plant suppliers to do their own subsequent testing via another laboratory to confirm the results. • Request information from the local Estates officer for the Healthcare Facility on the regular water test results as given by the local Water Board as a base line measure. These tests should be carried out at least annually. • Find out the likely fouling index of the water and fit adequate pre-treatment! • If silicates are important to the quality of the output water, inform the prospective suppliers and measure the existing level. Remember that most forms of water treatment (especially RO) reduce contaminants but are not an absolute barrier. • Identify any filtration system that is needed to deal with particulates and water flow for the installation. • Consider single point of failures and whether Duplex or Simplex type pump/ filtration plant as required with run/standby pumps or filters to maintain the system as desired. • Identify critical spares that need to be held. • Calculate the worst-case demand for use for full flow when all endoscope washer disinfectors are running at the same cycle stage. • If a rinse water treatment system requires periodic self-disinfection, then decide upon the method required (e.g. thermal or chemical self-disinfect). • Consider how the water treatment plant will interface with the endoscope washer disinfector 6 • Request that there are multiple sample points and that they are all of a sanitary stainless-steel type. • Ensure that all staff involved in operating equipment within, or associated with, the decontamination suite are appropriately trained and demonstrably competent in all relevant areas.

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