A comparative study of ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, and low-temperature steam formaldehyde sterilization.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacies of ethylene oxide gas (EOG), hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (PLASMA), and low-temperature steam formaldehyde (LTSF) sterilization methods.


METHODS
The efficacies of EOG, PLASMA, and LTSF sterilization were tested using metal and plastic plates, common medical instruments, and three process challenge devices with narrow lumens. All items were contaminated with Bacillus stearothermophilus spores or used a standard biological indicator.


RESULTS
EOG and LTSF demonstrated effective killing of B. stearothermophilus spores, with or without serum, on plates, on instruments, and in process challenge devices. PLASMA failed to adequately sterilize materials on multiple trials in several experiments, including two of three plates, two of three instruments, and all process challenge devices.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that PLASMA sterilization may be unsuccessful under certain conditions, particularly when used for items with complex shapes and narrow lumens. Alternatively, LTSF sterilization demonstrates excellent efficacy and is comparable to EOG sterilization. LTSF could potentially act as a substitute if EOG becomes unavailable due to environmental concerns.
Kanemitsu
Keiji
K
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. kane2@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Imasaka
Takayuki
T
Ishikawa
Shiho
S
Kunishima
Hiroyuki
H
Harigae
Hideo
H
Ueno
Kumi
K
Takemura
Hiromu
H
Hirayama
Yoshihiro
Y
Kaku
Mitsuo
M
D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology*; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000502:physiology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007564:Japan; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
D005557:Formaldehyde; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005027:Ethylene Oxide