Aeration time following ethylene oxide sterilization for reusable rigid sterilization containers: concentration of gaseous ethylene oxide in containers.
Because ethylene oxide (EO) gas is toxic to humans, restrictions have been imposed on its use for sterilization, specifying allowable levels of residual EO remaining in sterilized apparatus and materials. However, the aeration time that optimizes the removal of the remaining EO when a rigid sterilizing container is used for a vessel had not been identified. Therefore, polyvinyl chloride, which easily adsorbs EO, was placed in rigid sterilizing containers, and aeration was carried out after 1, 8, 12, 17, and 24 hours. After standard EO sterilization, the EO concentrations remaining in the air in the rigid containers were measured. The results indicate that a period of 17 hours of aeration is appropriate when a rigid sterilizing container is used.
Nakata
S
S
Surgical Center, Osaka University Medical School, Japan. nakata@hp-op.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Umeshita
K
K
Ueyama
H
H
Takashina
M
M
Noguchi
S
S
Murata
A
A
Ochi
T
T
D000388:Air; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004867:Equipment Design; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004202:Disinfectants; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D005027:Ethylene Oxide