title: Evaluation of steam penetration and sterilization of natural latex wraps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of steam and ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization of Vetrap™ bandages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vetrap™ bandages (n = 70; 35 as supplied by the manufacturer, 35 unwound and tightly rewound).
  
  
  METHODS
  Vetrap™ bandage rolls (n = 60) marked with a 1 cm square were inoculated with 0.1 mL Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, packaged in a pouch together with independent sterilization indicators and assigned into 3 sub-groups for sterilizer type: dynamic air removal, gravity displacement, and bench-top pre-vacuum and further sub-divided into 2 sterilization temperatures. Vetrap™ bandages rolls (n = 10) were inoculated with 0.1 mL Bacillus atrophaeus spores in the same manner and underwent EtO sterilization. After sterilization, the 1 cm marked square was aseptically resected to the level of the cardboard tube and enriched in a flask containing 10 mL tryptic soy broth for 24 hours at 60°C for G. stearothermophilus and 37°C for B. atrophaeus. Aliquots were subsequently plated on a Petri dish of tryptic soy agar and incubated at 60°C for G. stearothermophilus and 37°C for B. atrophaeus for 24 hours. Samples were scored positive if colonies of indicator organism were present on the nutrient agar after 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three Vetrap™ bandages yielded post-sterilization growth of G. stearothermophilus: 2 from the dynamic air removal sterilizer at 134°C for 3.5 minutes, and 1 from the bench-top pre-vacuum sterilizer at 121°C for 15 minutes. After EtO sterilization, no positive samples were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Steam sterilization may be incomplete for Vetrap™ bandages whereas EtO showed complete destruction of resistant bacterial spores.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossanese
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasson
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bowlt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001458:Bandages; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007840:Latex; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013227:Steam; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D013227:Steam; D005027:Ethylene Oxide