Bacteria and fungi contaminating water and hemodialysis fluids: a review

Hemodialysis is a clinical procedure in which aqueous solutions are used for the purification of blood. Contamination of water or hemodialysis fluids may expose the patient to the risk of infections caused mainly by bacteria or fungi. In this review we examine literature about microbial contamination of water and hemodialysis fluids, relating most bacteria and fungi commonly implicated in infections. This is a bibliographical research that took place in the Bases Virtual Library on Health, Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) and the PubMed portal with the descriptors in health sciences: hemodialysis, infection, water contamination, hemodialysis fluid and microorganisms. Despite multiple efforts to control and avoid problems of healthcare associated infections, microbiological contamination of water remains a challenge for health services. Bacteria and fungi are water contaminants that are also important as infections agents for immunocompromised patients, like those in hemodialysis treatment. Surveillance actions are therefore required to better inhibit the spread of microorganisms, which may reduce or prevent the formation of biofilms on surfaces and pipelines, as well as monitoring infectious agents to prevent the emergence of resistant strains. Microbiological contamination of water is still a worldwide problem, despite the efforts of institutions and other health organizations to control the presence of microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi. In addition, biofilmsare the main causes of maintenance of microorganisms in water for hemodialysis.