OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of recommendations and the water chlorine concentration used for hemodialysis in hospitals of Recife City, Pernambuco. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed documentations of water chlorine concentration for hemodialysis in 8 hospitals from August 2006 to May 2008. Water chlorine analysis was performed with orthotolidine 0.1% at the beginning of the hemodialysis. RESULTS: Of the 3.781 samples of water assessed, only 840 samples (22. 2%) had an adequate concentration of Chlorine (0.2 to 0.5 ppm). The majority of the samples (2.849, 75.4%) had chlorine concentration above the recommended criteria. Only a small number of samples (92, 2.4%) had no chlorine in the water. CONCLUSION: Findings indicated significant variability in water chlorine concentration for hemodialysis, suggesting the need for strict regulations of dialysis services to promote quality care and safety to patients on hemodialysis.
Hemodialysis; Chlorine; Water