BEER & WATER – ISSUE NO. 562

With today being St. Patrick’s Day, what better time to talk about beer. Some say that water is the most important ingredient in the brewing process. Whether you believe that or not, the quality of the water used affects the quality of your beer. Brands even use slogans like “From the land of sky-blue waters” or “Brewed with pure Rocky Mountain spring water.” The same goes for our profession; some say that water is the most important ingredient in the cleaning process. Whether you believe that or not, it is clear that the quality of your department's water affects how clean your medical device will be. Water is the critical ingredient in cleaning. Our processes require water quality specifications that improve the outcomes of the process. Just like in the brewing process, poor water quality equals poor outcome (bad tasting beer); poor water quality in our profession equals poor outcomes (possibly dirty instruments). That is why, just like in the brewery process, water is continually monitored. If its quality fluctuates too much, the process will produce a poor product nobody will drink. So, as you raise a few pints of beer today, remember that the water played a major role in enjoying that great taste, and think about the role water plays in your department to provide a clean and functional medical device.