title: Evaluation of the effects of fragmented steam exposure cycles on the survival of bacterial spores.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the population and resistance characteristics of bacterial spores which have been exposed to an abbreviated steam sterilization cycle. The philosophy of many pharmaceutical manufacturers is to require a second complete terminal sterilization cycle in the event of an unplanned interruption during the terminal sterilization of a production batch. The impact of abbreviated steam sterilization cycles was examined for their effect on the survivability and resistance of bacterial spores following an inadequate sterilization cycle. Steam sterilization cycles of two minutes and four minutes were performed on separate groups of Biological Indicator spore strips. These groups were then held at room temperature and re-exposed to a range of sterilization conditions after 24, 48, and 72 hours, i.e., start cycle, abort, hold, start cycle, abort. Spore survivor curves were calculated and resistance estimations were determined. The results of the study indicated that the log level of the surviving spores remained fairly constant, but variability within groups increased as sterilization time increased. The resistance of these surviving spores, as measured by D value, also remained relatively constant throughout the holding period. Abbreviated cycles were similarly conducted on ampules containing a spore suspension, and the spore populations and moist heat resistances were determined over time. Contrary to the spore strip, the population of the subject ampules was less stable showing a gradual decline over the same observation period. The study also included a comparison of the surviving population of short and long fragmented cycles. The results of this study demonstrate that a second complete sterilization cycle is unnecessary to assure the absence of living matter in the sterilized units.
authors.affiliation: Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Shirtz
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Soli
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Stellwag
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McConnell
mesh_terms: D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D013227:Steam; D013242:Sterilization; D013534:Survival; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013227:Steam