Glutaraldehyde retains its disinfectant properties in presence of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) gel.
Explanted medical devices are routinely sent to laboratories at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health for analysis. The shipping of these devices presents potential hazards to personnel as well as an opportunity for damage to the devices. In an effort to address these concerns, a viscous disinfecting shipping medium that would limit splashing and cushion a suspended device was proposed. Consequently, we investigated the disinfectant properties of adding a gelling agent, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) to common disinfectants. We found that the germicidal effectiveness of 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.05 M borax when tested against Bacillus subtilis spores was not changed by the addition of 2% HPMC. In addition, HPMC appears to be compatible with 70% ethanol and at least one commercial disinfectant containing a quaternary ammonium compound. Preliminary experiments indicate that an HPMC-disinfectant gel is a potentially useful packaging agent for minimizing the hazards to personnel and materials during shipping of explanted medical devices. The use of such a medium would be subject to guidelines within the context of a program for handling biologically contaminated materials.
Matchette
L S
LS
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA. lsm@fdadr.cdrh.fda.gov
Vegella
T J
TJ
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007785:Lactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D010078:Oxazines; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D014783:Viscosity
D003470:Culture Media; D004202:Disinfectants; D010078:Oxazines; D008747:Methylcellulose; C071191:MK 458; D007785:Lactose; D005976:Glutaral