title: New sterilization technology and the effects on bone pencil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The changing technology today with sterilizing surgical tools has called into question the ability to adequately sterilize the bone pencil. Concern has arisen as to the sterilization of bone pencil and whether the new technology used in sterilizing the operating equipment meets the standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This study was performed to compare the older gas sterilizing technology (ETO) with the newer hydrogen peroxide-based Sterrad sterilizer.
  
  
  METHODS
  An equal number of standard number 2 pencils were used for both methods of sterilization. Three separate batches were used for a total of 13 pencils in each group. All pencils were cultured at 24 and 48 hours after sterilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All culture plates showed no growth during the incubation process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bone pencil can be sterilized using the new gas sterilization equipment as well as the older equipment.
authors.affiliation: Akron General Hospital, Akron 44685, USA. justinvm44@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Meeteren
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zins
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
mesh_terms: D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005740:Gases; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013525:Surgical Instruments
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide