Types of Sterilization and Their Uses

TYPES OF STERILIZATION AND THEIR USES Sterilization processes are used every day around the world to eliminate hazardous biological agents and bacteria. This process is especially critical to the Medical, Pharmaceutical and Food industries for public safety and regulation compliance. Depyrogenation / Dry Heat Šterilization Steam Sterilization EtO/EO Sterilization Dry heat sterilization is one of the earliest forms of sterilization practiced. Invented by Charles Chamberland in 1880 First used in the 1940s by the US Military Steam sterilization exposes each item to direct steam contact at the required temperature and pressure for the specified time. EtO or EO Sterilization is a method which utilizes Ethylene Oxide gas within a chamber to sterilize items or materials that cannot withstand the Used on products that may be degraded when exposed to steam or moisture. but which can withstand high temperatures. high temperatures or humidity that other storilization methods employ. Steam Sterilization is primarily used for heat-stable materials such as: Examples include devices or products including: Examples of items sterilized by dry heat sterilization: Metal, Surgical instruments Medical Electrical surgical instruments Petroleum Products Glassware Plastics Gauze Needles waste Components Cardboard Spices Glassware Powders Oils The EtO/EO sterilization cycle is done in 5 stages: There are two basic types of steam sterilizers: Two types of dry-heat sterilizers: Gravity displacement autoclave High-speed Precondtioning nd humidication Static-Air Forced-Air prevacuum sterilizer Ar washes Gan Introduction Uses heating colls at the bottom of the unit to Steam is admitted at the Similar to gravity dis- Evacuaton Eponre Uses a motor-driven blower top or sides of the sterliing placement sterilizers. couse hot alr to rise Inside to circulate heated ar but outfitted witha a chamber through gravity convection. chamber, which forces the throughout the chamber at or out of the bottom of the vacuum pump to a high velocity. chamber through a ensure alr removal from the sterilzing chamber. drain vent. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Temperature. humidity. pressure and gas concentration must al be strictly monitored with data loggers throughout all sterilzation cycles. Data loggers are also used to valdate the sterilzation chambers regularty +) Advantages of Steam Sterilization Advantages of EtO/EO Sterilization Advantages of Dry Heat Sterilization • Ervironmentally safe e ( • Inexpensive • Nontoxic • Inexpensive • Nontoxic • Microbicidal • Sporicidal • Con sterilize heat or moisture sensitive medical equipment and products Destroys ol microorgorisms K soores, including • Dry heat cabinet • Noncorrosive for metal and sharp Including bocteria, yoast bocteria and ung to tock spore gominotion is easy to install • Gas can penetrate materials to sterilize pre-packaged instruments or products ond ungi. on the surtoce of instruments the material to prevent deae hansmision. Disadvantages of Steam Sterilization Disadvantages of EtO/EO Sterilization Disadvantages of Dry Heat Sterilization $$s • Lengthy • Hozardous to certain types of • High costs cycle time medical equipment, Including equipment with plastics, due to the heat and • Time consuming mosture generated. • Dangerous to use if not handled with proper safety precautions Sources: http://apps.who.int/phint/en/p/docf/ http://www.cdc.gov/hicpoc/Disinfection Sterilization/13_10otherSterilizationMethods.html w.cde.govocru non tilization/13 taion html http://www.ncahcsp.org/Inservice/0907_Inservice_How_Does Steam_Work.pdf MADGETECH wr aUcO DATA LOGGERS EENationalPositions