The 'deadly threat' to kidney dialysis patients from hospital water supply

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The 'deadly threat' to kidney dialysis patients from hospital water supply

By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 11:37 PM on 28th October 2008

Kidney dialysis patients could be at risk from a chemical added to hospital water supplies to kill bugs.

Hospitals have been alerted after one man died and six others were taken seriously ill at a dialysis unit in Leicester.

They were affected by the use of hydrogen peroxide containing microscopic particles of silver, which is used in many hospitals to kill the bacteria that cause legionnaires' disease.
Dialysis

Kidney dialysis patients may be at risk from a chemical added to hospital water supplies to kill bugs

Dialysis machines - which use up to 100 litres of water for each patient - have filtration systems to remove such chemicals from the water supply, but at Leicester General Hospital these failed.

Hours after coming into contact with the chemical in August, all seven patients had been rushed back into hospital. Within three days one, 71 year-old Ibrahim Mullah, had died. His death is now the subject of an investigation by the coroner who has already opened an inquest.
A patient died and five others were taken ill at Leicester General Hospital

A patient died and five others were taken ill at Leicester General Hospital

It is believed that 'silver-stabilised' hydrogen peroxide is widely used by NHS hospitals to clean water supplies because of its ease of application.

If drunk the chemical is not harmful, but can be lethal if it gets into the bloodstream.

The National Patient Safety Agency has called on hospitals to be on the look-out for patients displaying symptoms of silver hydrogen peroxide poisoning.

Four of the Leicester patients required emergency blood transfusions after developing severe anaemia. The hospital claimed it had carried out a full 'risk assessment' but it did not test whether the filters could cope with the addition of silver hydrogen peroxide.

Hospital staff took the advice of the company supplying the filtration system that it was safe to add the chemical.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1081353/The-deadly-threat-kidney-dialysis-patients-hospital-water-supply.html?ITO=1490#