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In recent news, we have been hearing a lot about air quality. Air
pollution has a direct impact on our health due to harmful contaminants we may breathe, but what about water quality? We often think about protecting ourselves from contaminants in the air and forget to consider the water in our environment. Wildfires and
other air pollution can be potentially harmful to bodies of water. Monitoring water quality is critical to ensure it is safe for swimming and drinking.
How does water quality impact the Sterile Processing Department? Water
quality is critical with most applications. During medical device reprocessing, it's important to test the water quality because it is key to the performance of chemical cleaning agents. In particular, hard water binds up detergent molecules, preventing them
from breaking down the contaminants. Further, these molecules are often a source of staining and pitting of surgical instruments. Enzymes used in enzymatic detergent are highly influenced by the pH level of water. An improper pH level can lead to the partial
or complete inactivation of the enzymes relied upon to break down the soil on instruments. Total alkalinity measures the amount of alkaline buffers in water. These alkaline substances buffer the water against sudden changes in pH. Total alkalinity is the key
to maintaining water balance.
Be sure your department has regular
testing in place to be sure you are cleaning instruments with optimal water quality.
Matt Smith
Senior Manager of Marketing
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