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HONG KONG JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, vol.17, no.5, pp.492-494, 2010 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Haemodialysis that involves diffusion of solutes across a semi-permeable membrane allows excretion of harmful solutes and excess fluids. all dialysis machines are disinfected by chemical agents (e.g. sodium hypochlorite, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, peroxyacetic acid). Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), which is known as household bleach, is a whitening agent and used in medical treatment and disinfection of tap water. Herein, we present a 66-year-old female patient who has inadvertently connected to NaOCl solution infusion in a routine haemodialysis session. By the time the accident was noticed, approximately 200 ml of undiluted NaOCl cleaning solution (concentration 1.21-1.23 g/ml) had been added to the dialysis bath, soaking the membrane fibres. The patient was admitted as 5/15 (E1, V1, M3). In conclusion, more stringent standards should be enforced in the sterilization of haemodialysis machines and related equipments. Accidental contacts with disinfectants should be prevented in dialysis units. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2010;17:492-494)