Which disinfect lasts longer on a 2008K? Bleach or Heat disinfect?
In other words, which one will control bacteria growth the longest?
Thanks

I would say heat. The reason why is that in heat disinfect the machine disinfects the water that is in the machine then shuts off. When you disinfect with bleach, you have to do a rinse with RO water afterwords. This may introduce bacteria in the system that will grow over the next day or so.

Just my TWO_CENTS

DIALYSIS MACHINE DISINFECTIONS ARE GOOD ONLY WHILE YOU ARE DOING IT....I MEAN YOU WILL KILL BACTERIA WITH HEAT OR BLEACH BUT AFTER THE DISINFECTION PROCESS, IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF THE WATER YOU ARE USING. CONTROL MICROBIAL GROWTH FROM THE SOURCE (RO OR DI) DOWN TO THE TANK OR LOOP THEN FINALLY THE HD MACHINES.

Tim,
I lean towards heat as well.

If heat is better, why do we do bleach once a week? Also why the bleach after every treatment for Isolation patients?

bleach is the best nothin kills like bleach..... Heat kills any bacterica that is water born baterica but bleach kills the baterica that heat cant kill.....

My understanding was that it will strip the protiens that can build up off of the blood leak detector so you don't get fasle BL alarms.

HiloTech,

I cannot honestly come up with the scientific documentation for your questions. I have too heard that heat disinfection is a "better" disinfection procedure than bleach. The only thing I would say is:

Bleach Disinfection - If this was done every day, wouldn't the machine be more vulnerable to damage? Bleach breaks down plastics and corrodes metal. I am thinking that Heat will not kill Hep B or TB. The mandated weekly bleach disinfection is to introduce the drains to a disinfectant?

Great topic, maybe we will get a proven answer.

Brian, very good answer and theory.

Bleach does a couple of things that heat will not. 1) If you never perform a bleach disinfect your nasty drain cheese would accumulate much faster. 2) Bleach removes certain buildups on crucial components like the conductivity cells. 3) Anytime you are trying to kill something using multiple weapons is the best answer.

John I'd like the answer to that question too.

The answer to OP's question is neither or both it all depends on a variety of factors from the nature of the bacteria to the chemical deposits in the machine.

Heat (like formaldehyde) is an efficient way to kill bacteria if the proper temperature is achieved for a sufficient period of time. Heat (unlike formaldehyde)can break down endotoxins and components of biofilm. However heat disinfection is not a good process for cleaning. This is why it is necessary to use bleach or peracetic acid products. Both at sufficient dilutions will kill bacteria and both being oxidizing agents will breakdown various substances for more easier removal.

In other words while heat is great killer, the chemicals are better cleaners.

Bottom line - both processes (heat and chemical) are needed to achieve maximum effect.