[Testing for Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an additional parameter for assessing microbiological quality of dialysis water]

In 1995 the regional council of the Lazio region passed Decree N.1650 which regulates the maintenance of dialysis equipment and sets limiting values for microbiological and chemical parameters used to assess the quality of water used for dialysis fluids. As regards the microbiological parameters, limiting values were set for total bacterial count and endotoxins. However, in recent literature, serious health effects following dialysis have been described; these suggest the advisability of including testing for more specific microorganisms and of testing greater samples of dialysis water. In this study, conducted over 2 years, in addition to normal microbiological parameters, dialysis fluids were tested for the presence of bacteria of the Pseudomonas species. Results show that samples which met the standards for dialysis water set by legislation were actually found to be contaminated by Pseudomonas species.