A clinical and bacteriological evaluation of a re-use system for disposable haemodialysers

Re-use of disposable haemodialysers, cleaned and disinfected with sodium hypochlorite and benzoic acid, was evaluated bacteriologically and clinically during the course of 514 dialysis treatments, performed with 206 RP6 dialysers used up to three times. Microbial contamination of the dialysers, which may be ascribed to the re-use system, was not observed. At the start of the dialyses, contamination of the dialysate compartment was lower in re-used dialysers, but during the dialyses it increased more rapidly than in dialysers used for the first time. Contamination of the blood compartment was the same with new and re-used dialysers. Clinical side effects, which may be ascribed to the re-use of dialysers, were not observed. The tested re-use system is hygienically acceptable and can be recommended for routine use, provided that the contamination of the dialysate is kept at a level below 10(4) cfu/ml and restricted to micro-organisms of low pathogenicity. A continuing bacteriological test sampling system is advisable.