To address the problem, Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL) is introducing in Europe the Pall-AquasafeTM AQF1C water filter, the latest addition to its line of point-of-use water filters for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The new filter is specifically designed to prevent microbial contamination of heat-sensitive medical devices as well as machines that dispense ice and water. The disposable filter, which is installed in the water supply line, is a CE-marked medical device for the European market. It contains a 0.2 micron bacterial retention membrane validated to produce bacteria-free water.
Gastroscopes, colonoscopes, bronchoscopes and other heat-sensitive flexible endoscopes are disinfected and manually rinsed with water to insure the removal of all residual liquid chemical germicide prior to use with patients. However, the use of tap water for this critical rinsing step in the reprocessing protocol can increase the risk of nosocomial infection if it is contaminated with bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila and other pathogens that can be passed to patients. The World Health Organization recommends that microbiologically clean, sterile or bacteriological controlled water should be used when rinsing medical equipment.
"Water should eliminate the last traces of disinfectant on reprocessed medical devices without introducing a new problem by depositing microbial contaminants onto their surfaces and into their working channels," says Allan Ross, President of Pall Medical. "The simple quick connection of the new Pall-Aquasafe in-line filter provides an instant barrier that protects patients and medical equipment from the transmission of waterborne pathogens."
In addition to medical device reprocessing, the Pall-Aquasafe in-line filter can be inserted into the feed lines of other common water sources where microbial contamination can be a problem, such as ice machines and drinking water dispensers.
The new filter's universal quick connectors on both inlet and outlet ports make it easy to install, disconnect and replace. Each filter is individually tested, has a use life of up to 14 days, and does not require resterilization and validation. This results in less labor to install and maintain, less waste generation and greater cost efficiencies.
Medical Devices as a Vector of Waterborne Pathogens
Several studies have detected waterborne bacteria in flexible endoscopes. A 2004 study conducted by Hansen, et.al., published in German Medical Science detected microbial contamination in 28 of 108 flexible endoscopes tested. The 2002 Hygiene in Gastroenterology-Endoscope Reprocessing (HYGEA) study detected waterborne bacteria in 30 out of 55 flexible endoscopes tested.
Flexible endoscopes are used for a wide variety of minimally invasive medical procedures to examine internal body cavities, such as the upper gastrointestinal tract (gastroscopy), lower gastrointestinal tract (colonoscopy) and respiratory tract (bronchoscopy). There are approximately 6000 endoscopic departments that reprocess (manually clean) the devices throughout Europe.
Total Water Management
There are three major routes through which patients are exposed to waterborne pathogens: 1) consumption by drinking or ice, 2) inhalation of aerosols generated by showers and faucets, and 3) direct contact with water used for wound cleansing or reprocessing of heat-sensitive medical devices.
The Pall-Aquasafe AQF1C in-line filter is the Company's latest addition to its family of Pall-Aquasafe filters that protect patients from contaminated water regardless of the route of transmission. These products enable healthcare facilities to practice total water management and tailor their infection control procedures to better protect patients and the equipment used to treat them. They include a 30-day disposable point-of-use, showerhead validated for removal of Legionella; a 14-day disposable filter for use on faucets validated to remove Legionella and a 7-day disposable filter for both faucets and showerheads validated to remove bacteria and fungi in addition to Legionella.
About Pall Corporation
Pall Corporation is the global leader in the rapidly growing field of filtration, separation and purification. Pall's business is organized around two broad markets: Life Sciences and Industrial. The Company provides leading-edge products to meet the demanding needs of customers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, transfusion medicine, semiconductor, water purification, aerospace and broad industrial markets. Total revenues are $1.8 billion. The Company headquarters are in East Hills, New York with extensive operations throughout the world. Visit Pall at www.pall.com
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