Water quality is a key factor in several critical hospital processes that must be monitored to ensure the safe delivery of healthcare to patients. Municipal water impurities can damage medical devices by causing rusting, pitting, and by introducing bacterial contamination which increases patients’ risks to surgical site and hospital acquired infections. In order to protect the sensitive medical devices that require frequent cleaning and sterilization, hospitals must install water treatment systems designed to treat municipal water supplied to the sterile processing systems (e.g., steam sterilizers, ultrasonic cleaners, washers, sinks etc.).

The newly released AAMI, AAMI/ANSI ST108, Water for the processing of reusable medical devices, is a new standard that is intended to replace the technical information report (TIR) AAMI TIR34:2014/(R)2017, Water for the reprocessing of medical devices. ST108 will establish the minimum requirements for the varying grades of water (coining the phrase “critical water”) used at different points in the Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) cleaning/processing sequence. These minimum requirements will help ensure successful cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of devices and minimize the chance of device damage during processing. 

Expert insights from Eurofins Built Environment Testing

• Eurofins experience in the healthcare sector
  
  • Eurofins Built Environment Testing has extensive experience providing laboratory services to healthcare facilities. We understand the critical infrastructure that supports the healthcare facility’s environment of care.
• Common water quality challenges in healthcare
  
  • AAMI/ANSI ST108 requires investigation and response actions when sterile processing water contaminants exceed the allowable limits.  Healthcare facilities may require support in:
    
    • Collecting samples at the required frequencies under ST108 (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually)
    • Interpreting the water testing analytical results
    • Investigating, trouble shooting, and identifying root causes of exceedances
    • Designing engineering solutions for water quality issues

By implementing this new standard, sterile processing professionals in healthcare facilities can ensure that they can have the water quality necessary to effectively process RME while decreasing the negative impacts on medical devices and thus improving patient care.

Our recommendation for staying ahead

Start early! Eurofins Built Environment Testing recommends that healthcare facilities accomplish the performance qualification testing required by ST108, as soon as possible, to establish a baseline of the domestic water quality and each critical water point of use; particularly those facilities that have never tested their critical water previously. This initial testing will identify any treatment deficiencies and help healthcare facilities understand and plan for the possible capital invests and resources necessary to get into compliance.