Essential Role of Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid Highlighted on World Patient Safety Day
September 16 2020 - 8:05PM
Business Wire
Fresenius Medical Care Asia Pacific responds
to call for education in preparation of ultrapure dialysis fluid in
developing economies
Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of dialysis
products and services, today announced the launch of the
organization’s first World Patient Safety Day initiative to raise
awareness of the importance of ultrapure dialysis fluid for
developing economies across Asia Pacific. On 17 September each
year, the World Health Organization (WHO), international partners
and all countries commemorate World Patient Safety Day: a day that
aims to increase global awareness of the need to protect patients
in healthcare settings. Fresenius Medical Care Asia Pacific has
chosen this important day to highlight the crucial role that
ultrapure dialysis fluid (UPDF) plays in reducing morbidity and
mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients,1 and to launch a
multi-year initiative providing ongoing healthcare professional
education to increase the uptake of high-quality dialysis
fluid.
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Fresenius Medical Care today announced
the launch of the organization’s first World Patient Safety Day
initiative to raise awareness of the importance of ultrapure
dialysis fluid for developing economies across Asia Pacific.
(Graphic: Business Wire)
Water is an essential requirement for HD and patients are highly
vulnerable to contaminants that may be present in that water.2 This
means that the quality of water used for dialysis fluid is critical
and has led to the use of UPDF, which is defined by the ISO
organization as containing <0.1 colony-forming unit/ml (CFU/ml)
using sensitive microbiological methods and <0.03 endotoxin
unit/ml (EU/ml).1
Studies have demonstrated that the use of UPDF prevents
inflammation and its detrimental biological and clinical
consequences, as well as better preserving residual renal function
in HD patients.1 Further, the use of UPDF is associated with a
lower risk of infection and inflammation, and significant
reductions in cardiovascular events, morbidity and mortality.1,3,4
However, in developing countries, UPDF is not always used, with the
low quality of dialysis fluid having potential negative outcomes
for patients.5 A survey reviewing the quality of dialysis fluid in
dialysis facilities in Vietnam and Cambodia found that the
endotoxin level in only two of the four facilities surveyed was
satisfactory, while the bacterial counts in dialysis fluids were
not acceptable in any of the facilities surveyed.5 The study’s
authors concluded that there was an urgent need for developing
countries to educate healthcare workers in preparing endotoxin-free
dialysis fluid.5 Furthermore, there is good evidence that UPDF is
technically and economically feasible for most dialysis centers,
with the additional costs offset by indirect and direct health
benefits.1
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has
developed a series of standards for the quality of dialysis fluid
and concentrates. Notably, Fresenius Medical Care’s complete
portfolio of products – from water treatment systems, dialysis
concentrates, dialysis machines and filters – are aligned with
these standards. “By driving awareness and adoption of the ISO
standards, we are helping to enhance the safety of patients,
protecting them from the risks associated with impure water and
improperly prepared dialysis fluid,” said Mr. Harry de Wit, CEO of
Fresenius Medical Care Asia Pacific. “We have chosen World Patient
Safety Day to highlight the importance of this issue.”
The company will utilize a series of educational initiatives
with input from company and external experts presenting on
different aspects of UPDF and the ISO standards. These will begin
with an online symposium presented on World Patient Safety Day,
‘Does Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid Matter in Hemodialysis?’ and
publication of a white paper, ‘Turning the tide: Maintaining water
quality for dialysis through an ISO framework’, which healthcare
professionals, dialysis technicians and engineers can obtain from
their local Fresenius Medical Care representative.
Key panelist on the symposium, Dr. Titus Lau, Senior Consultant,
Program Director for Hemodialysis at National University Hospital,
Singapore, spoke to the urgency of this initiative: “High quality
dialysis fluid is a basic component of good hemodialysis treatment.
Ensuring microbial purity and electrolyte consistency is crucial
and must be an integral part of the management of any dialysis
unit. The existing technology makes ultrapure dialysis fluid
attainable and dialysis providers should make an intentional effort
towards this level of water quality to ensure the best possible
outcomes for all their patients. It is certainly appropriate for
Fresenius Medical Care to conduct this online symposium as part of
the activities on World Patient Safety Day to help focus on a less
visible component of dialysis care but one that is certainly of
great importance.”
For more information about Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid, please
visit: https://bit.ly/3moMk0Q
About the online symposium
The online symposium “Does Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid Matter in
Hemodialysis?” will be held at 1:00 – 2:30pm HKT (UTC/GMT+8) on
World Patient Safety Day, 17 September (Thu). Registration can be
done here.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Alexandra Villar: Alexandra.Villar@fmc-asia.com
References
- Canaud, B. and Lertdumrongluk, P. Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid: A
New Standard for Contemporary Hemodialysis. Nephro-Urology Monthly.
2012;4(3),519-523.
- Lucena, R., Boccato, C., Vienken, J., & Evans, D. Water and
Dialysis Fluids: A Quality Management Guide. 2015.
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3595.8485
- Gandrapu B. and Henner DE. (2017) Does Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid
improve Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients?. Enliven:
Nephrology and Renal Studies 4(1): 002.
- Nguyen DB., et al. Hemodialysis-Associated Infections. Chronic
Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplantation.
2019;389-410.e8.
- Naramura, T., et al. Dialysis and Quality of Dialysate in
Southeast Asian Developing Countries. Nephron Extra.
2014;4(1),64-69.
ABOUT FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE
Fresenius Medical Care is the world's leading provider of
products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which
around 3.5 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis
treatment. Through its network of 4,036 dialysis clinics, Fresenius
Medical Care provides dialysis treatments for 347,683 patients
around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the leading
provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or
dialyzers. Along with the core business, the company focuses on
expanding the range of related medical services in the field of
Care Coordination. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME) and on the New York Stock Exchange
(FMS). For more information, please visit the company’s website:
www.freseniusmedicalcare.asia.
DISCLAIMER
This release contains forward-looking statements that are
subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could
differ materially from those described in these forward-looking
statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to,
changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, legal
changes, regulatory approvals, results of clinical studies, foreign
exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or
investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These
and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical
Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does
not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking
statements in this release.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200916005511/en/
Media Dr. Alexandra Villar Vice President Corporate
Communications and Branding Asia Pacific
Fresenius Medical Care Northpoint, 100 Miller Street
North Sydney, NSW 2060 Australia T +61 2 9466 8020
Alexandra.Villar@fmc-asia.com
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