Hemodialysis machine disinfection: a safe period of time between cycles.

The Yellowknife Dialysis Clinic at Stanton Regional Health Board is an independent unit with nephrology support from the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. In November of 1998, the clinic wanted to change its policy of disinfecting the hemodialysis machines from every 24 hours to every 48 hours. A study was proposed to closely monitor the water and dialysate bacterial counts while increasing the amount of hours between bleaching. At the end of the study, the water and dialysate bacterial counts remained very low when the machines were disinfected every 48 hours and even up to 66 hours. The dialysis clinic was able to confidently change the policy knowing that patient safety was maintained.