Background: Hemodialysis is a life-saving process used as a treatment for many patients
sufferimg from renal failure. Because of the large amount of water used in this process,
contamination of hemodialysis water with microbial and harmful chemical pollutants is
possible. Therefore, considering standards of dialysis water is critical. The aim of this
study was to investigate the microbiological and chemical indicators of water used in hemodialysis centers of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences and the efficiency of water
treatment systems in these centers.
Methods: This cross - sectional study was performed in two hospitals of Zahedan from
March to June 2012. A total of 15 hemodialysis devices were selected through convenient
sampling and 34 samples were taken from their input water. Experiments were performed
according to the book of standard methods. Data analysis was performed through SPSS16
and using descriptive statistics and t-test.
Results: Except for calcium that its mean concentration (19.4± 5.4) was higher than the
AAMI standard, mean concentrations of cations and other compounds were significantly
less than the standard levels. None of the samples had microbiological contamination.
Conclusion: The water used in hemodialysis centers of Zahedan hospitals has no microbiological contamination and has AAMI standards.
Keywords: Renal failure, microbial indicators, chemical indicators, hemodialysis centers,
AAMI standard, Zaheda
