Health Surveillance lifts partial ban on sterilization center at Irmãos Penteado Hospital, in Campinas

Irmãos Penteado Hospital, in Campinas (SP) Marcello Carvalho/G1 Health Surveillance lifted this Friday (31) the partial ban it had ordered on the Material and Sterilization Center (CME) of Irmãos Penteado Hospital, in Campinas (SP). The information was confirmed by the supervisory body. With this, the health unit will resume elective surgeries with orthopedic, ophthalmological, cardiac and neurological implants, which had been suspended due to the measure. The ban occurs after the hospital makes adjustments to the CME's purified water system. According to the city's Official Gazette, a report dated June 26, 2026, had identified an excess of heterotrophic bacteria in the water used for the final rinse of materials sterilized by osmosis. ? Heterotrophic bacteria are microorganisms present in the environment that do not produce their own food. They range from bacteria that help decompose organic matter to those that can cause disease, such as staphylococci, streptococci and pseudomonas. In a statement, the hospital board said that the disinterdiction confirms that "the corrective measures adopted met the requirements of the health authority, allowing the full resumption of CME's activities." "The Hospital reaffirms its commitment to patient safety, quality of care and strict compliance with health standards, maintaining continuous monitoring of its processes", he added. What was the excess of bacteria? Infectious disease specialist Ana Rachel de Seni Rodrigues explains that the high concentration of these bacteria does not necessarily mean that the water has microorganisms capable of causing diseases. "In fact, heterotrophic bacteria function mainly as indicators of global water quality. When their numbers rise beyond the limit, some water protection barrier has failed," he says. According to the expert, non-standard water can compromise the quality of sterilization of medical materials. "If the water used meets microbiological standards outside the parameters determined by Brazilian legislation, contamination of the materials may occur and this process may not be carried out in accordance with the purpose of this machine", he explains. The doctor emphasizes, however, that the altered exam does not prove that the materials previously used were contaminated. She highlights that hospitals carry out periodic analyzes precisely to identify these changes before they pose a risk to patients.