FEATURE ARTICLES
ENDOSCOPE WASHER DISINFECTOR WATER COMPLIANCE IS REVERSE OSMOSIS THE ANSWER?
Case Study
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S/NZS 4187 is changing, with water quality requirements for both CSSD and Endoscopy revised in line with ISO 15883 and HTM 01-06. However, the requirements for CSSD and Endoscopy vary greatly, so there may not be a one size fits all solution with conventional products. While Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a commonly discussed solution, how suitable is it for Endoscopy?. Historically, RO systems have been used for CSSD departments with variable success rates. When it comes to Endoscopy departments, RO systems can be problematic in maintaining bacteria-free water quality. RO systems require a ringmain; an expensive piping system downstream of the RO that can supply Endoscope Washer Disinfectors (EWDs) and circulate RO water back to the system. If the ringmain is not installed by the manufacturer, they may refuse to guarantee the water quality of the system. The manufacturer of the RO only guarantees bacteria free water within their own system and ringmain. This means that installation of an RO system may not cure existing water quality issues that could be faced in the Endoscopy department. If there is an existing ringmain, super chlorination will need to be performed, filters changed, and the source of the contamination assessed. The question remains; when water sampling yields a positive result, who owns the No Man’s Land between RO and EWD? While RO systems may be suited to CSSD, they may be an expensive and imperfect solution for the more stringent EWD Rinse Water requirements under AS/NZS4187.
Endoscopy requires its own unique solution. Tristel has nearly three decades of experience in endoscopy, and developed the Tristel RA (Rinse Assure) System specifically for use with EWDs. Tristel RA is a small, streamlined unit that can be installed next to EWDs, or in an adjacent room. During the design and concept stages of Tristel RA, Tristel analysed ISO 15883 and HTM 01-06 and designed a product to fully comply with these standards. Tristel RA combines pre-filtration from 5-micron to 0.2-micron, water deionisation, RO and the addition of a non-toxic disinfectant – a combination of all methods for water treatment, designed to tick every box for supplying and maintaining bacteria free water to your EWD. No other product on the market was designed specifically for endoscopy, and guarantees bacteria free rinse water. The unique feature of Tristel RA lies within Tristel’s patented chlorine dioxide chemistry. Chlorine dioxide is recognised by the World Health Organisation for safe treatment of drinking water. There are numerous studies comparing chlorine dioxide, chlorine and thermal disinfection; with the most recognisable study carried out by Johns Hopkins University in the USA. The study concluded that chlorine
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