Authors (including presenting author) :
Yau TY (1), Lee CC (1), Yeung WC (1), Lee CK (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Sterile Services Department, Tuen Mun Hospital
Introduction :
This presentation focuses on integrating Mixed-bed filters to augment the efficiency and reliability of water treatment systems, emphasizing the critical role of uninterrupted sterile services for patient safety by the enhancement of the Water Treatment Contingency System.
High-purity water should be used for disinfection and sterilization in SSD, it should meet acceptable levels of impurities as described by AAMI ST108, the latest standard on water quality in sterile services, to avoid any pyrogenic reactions caused by endotoxin or other pyrogenic agents. In the case of reverse osmosis (R.O.) system services suspension, the system could not supply high purity water to consumption points; the Mixed-bed Contingency System take place and supply treated water to washer disinfectors and steam generators.
Objectives :
1. To provide high-purity water for disinfection and steam sterilization, reprocess reusable invasive medical devices and enhance patient safety by consistently meeting stringent sterilization standards.
2. To develop a robust contingency plan capable of sustaining operations for up to 7 days by plumbing water pressure only.
Methodology :
Reviewed different R.O. system contingency plans, the process of repairing R.O system and activating the contingency of filter water or mini R.O. water supply unit requires service vendors for emergency support, which costs long downtime. Therefore, a Mixed-bed Contingency System was installed in TMH SSD. It contains a duplexed filter as a deionised water system that filled with a strong acid Cation resin and a strong base Anion resin. The system could produce very high water quality through the ion exchange reactions that continually occur as the water passes through the Mixed Bed of resins complying to AAMI ST108.
Training was provided to SSD I/Cs, that could simply switch the corresponding valves to activate the mixed bed contingency Water Treatment System.
Result & Outcome :
The downtime of R.O. system under current practice during service suspension is around 1 hour in average. By using mixed-bed contingency system, staff could simply switch the corresponding valves within 15 mins. Compared to the current contingency support by using water filter, the treated water produced by the mixed bed is almost entirely made up of pure water (HOH or H2O) as of its demineralized quality, which is similar to the purity level of R.O. water. Integrating a mixed-bed contingency system with existing R.O. systems significantly enhances water purification processes, and high-purity water can be continuously provided for disinfection and steam sterilization in SSD, also contributing to heightened quality. The Mixed-bed Contingency System provides a simple and direct measure. This user-friendly operation streamlines the decision-making processes, enabling quick responses during critical situations without delays. The Mixed-bed Contingency System could run even with the normal water pressure; the implementation of a robust contingency plan capable of sustaining operations for 7 days will ensure uninterrupted sterile services during unforeseen circumstances.
