title: Influence of packaging and processing conditions on the decontamination of laboratory biomedical waste by steam sterilization.
abstract: The conditions for optimal steam decontamination of polypropylene bags half loaded with laboratory biomedical waste were studied (276 bags were processed). Controls were single-closed bags without water added or incisions made in the top, standing freely in an autoclave set at 121 degrees C. The average time required to reach 121 degrees C at the load center was 46 min for controls. A significant increase in this time occurred following addition of water to bags without incisions (60 min), with double bagging (60 min), or when using vertical containers (82 min). A significant decrease occurred when bags were slashed (37 min) or processed at 123 degrees C (32 min) or 132 degrees C (19 min). Horizontal containers or addition of water to slashed bags had no significant effect.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, 20045 chemin Ste-Marie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada H9X 3R5.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozanne
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montpetit