ArticleBMC infectious diseases2007
Hygienic safety of reusable tap water filters (Germlyser) with an operating time of 4 or 8 weeks in a haematological oncology transplantation unit.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Lessons learned from a structured and descriptive analysis of nosocomial outbreaks in hematology-oncology.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Article
- Infectious diseases in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: prevention and prophylaxis strategy guidelines 2016.Annals of hematology · 2016Article
- Principles of infection prevention and reprocessing in ENT endoscopy.GMS current topics in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery · 2015Review
- Plumbing of hospital premises is a reservoir for opportunistically pathogenic microorganisms: a review.Biofouling · 2013Review
- Can the Hazard Assessment and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system be used to design process-based hygiene concepts?GMS Krankenhaushygiene interdisziplinar · 2011Article
- Impact of a silver layer on the membrane of tap water filters on the microbiological quality of filtered water.BMC infectious diseases · 2008Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMicrobial safe tap water is crucial for the safety of immunosuppressed patients.
methodsTo evaluate the suitability of new, reusable point-of-use filters (Germlyser, Aquafree GmbH, Hamburg, Germany), three variations of a reusable filter with the same filter principle but with different outlets (with and without silver) and inner surface coating of the filter encasements (with and without nano-crystalline silver) were tested. The filter efficacy was monitored over 1, 4 and 8 weeks operating time in a haematological oncology transplantation unit equipped with 18 water outlets (12 taps, 6 showers).
resultsThe filtered water fulfilled the requirements of absence of pathogens over time. From 348 samples, 8 samples (2.3%) exceeded 100 cfu/ml (no sample > or = 500 cfu/ml). As no reprocessed filter exhibited 100% filter efficacy in the final quality control after each reprocessing, these contaminations could be explained by retrograde contamination during use.
conclusionAs a consequence of the study, the manufacturer recommends changing filters after 4 weeks in high risk areas and after 8 weeks in moderate infectious risk areas, together with routine weekly alcohol-based surface disinfection and additionally in case of visible contamination. The filter efficacy of the 3 filters types did not differ significantly regarding total bacterial counts. Manual reprocessing proved to be insufficient. Using a validated reprocessing in a washer/disinfector with alkaline, acid treatment and thermic disinfection, the filters were effectively reprocessable and now provide tap water meeting the German drinking water regulations as well as the WHO guidelines, including absence of pathogens.
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Registered trials
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