A study on the application of pasteurization of medical equipment.
OBJECTIVE
To study the need of pasteurization of medical equipment and the possibility of production of pasteurizer in Thailand.


METHODS
The need of pasteurization of medical equipment was studied by a set of questionnaires to heads of the central sterile supply department (CSSD) and head ward nurses in 29 hospitals across Thailand. Efficacy of pasteurization was demonstrated by disinfection with an imported pasteurizer. A pasteurizer was later produced by the researchers and had it tested for efficacy in disinfection.


RESULTS
There were 26 items of medical equipment that could be disinfected by pasteurization. The number of the equipment was 6.2 pieces per bed per week. Disinfection of the equipment was done in C.S.S.D. as well as in patient's wards. The imported pasteurizer was efficacious in disinfection. The pasteurizer made by researchers was convenient for use, not expensive to manufacture and the operating cost for disinfection was 2 to 6 folds less than that done by ethylene oxide gas.


CONCLUSIONS
Pasteurization is effective in disinfection and is applicable to certain heat labile medical equipments. A pasteurizer is not difficult to produce, cheap and the operating cost is low. Pasteurization should be more widely applied in Thailand
Danchaivijitr
Somwang
S
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. sisdc@mahidol.ac.th
Suwanasuthi
Pairoj
P
Tribuddharat
Chanwit
C
Dhiraputra
Chertsak
C
Pumsuwan
Varaporn
V
Pakaworavuthi
Sumalee
S
D002495:Central Supply, Hospital; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D014881:Water Supply