The sterility of hospital-prepared Soffban bandages.
An evaluation of the sterility of hospital-prepared Soffban bandages was undertaken. Discs of Bacillus stearothermophilus were inserted into the bandage rolls, prior to sterilization in "porous load" autoclaves. The discs were subsequently removed and placed in culture media, with growth of the organism indicating failure of sterilization. It was demonstrated that Soffban could not be sterilized reliably using standard hospital autoclave techniques.
Wood
E V
EV
Department of Orthopaedics, St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust, Warrington Road, Prescot, Merseyside, UK. evwood@hotmail.com
Fenwick
H
H
Manning
M P
MP
Mobbs
P
P
D001458:Bandages / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D013242:Sterilization