Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T23:24:08.199Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The sterilization of surgical rubber gloves and plastic tubing by means of ionizing radiation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. Oliver  and
A. H. Tomlinson
R. Oliver
Affiliation:
Department of Radiotherapy, Churchill Hospital, Oxford
A. H. Tomlinson
Affiliation:
The Public Health Laboratory, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Threads were infected with the spores of four species of bacteria and put inside rubber gloves which were sealed into plastic bags and irradiated with electrons or gamma rays. A dose of 1·5 Mrad. killed approximately 99·99% of the spores of each species and a dose of 2·5 Mrad. appeared to give an adequate margin of safety for sterilization. Spores were similarly killed inside plastic tubing and within the lumen of hypodermic needles.

The tensile strength of the gloves decreased with increasing doses of radiation so that the rough, solution-dipped gloves tested were significantly weaker after 8·0 Mrad., but the smooth gloves tested still complied with the British Standard after 30 Mrad. When vacuum-packed before irradiation, rough gloves were still satisfactory after 16 Mrad., and smooth gloves were apparently unaffected by 30 Mrad.; they could, therefore, be sterilized six and twelve times, respectively.

Radiation gives dependable sterilization of rubber gloves, and the use of a sealed plastic package obviates subsequent contamination. The possibility of using disposable radiation-sterilized gloves is discussed, the use of a plastic radiation indicator suggested and the practical applications of radiation sterilization in the hospital considered.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 58 , Issue 4 , December 1960 , pp. 465 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1960

References

Artandi, C. & Stonehill, A. A. (1958). Nucleonics, 16, no. 5, 118.Google Scholar
Artandi, C. & van Winkle, W. (1959). Nucleonics, 17, no. 3, 86.Google Scholar
Bopp, C. D. & Sisman, O. (1955). Nucleonics, 13, no. 10, 51.Google Scholar
Bowie, J. H. (1957). Hosp. Engr. 11, 98.Google Scholar
Darmady, E. M., Hughes, K. E. A. & Jones, J. D. (1958). Lancet, ii, 766.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, R. B., Peterson, L. J. & Cummings, D. G. (1954). Food Tech., Champaign, 8, 284.Google Scholar
Ellis, F., Oliver, R. & Vollum, R. L. (1959). Brit. J. Radiol. 32, 280.Google Scholar
Foster, F. L., Dewey, D. R. & Gale, A. J. (1953). Nucleonics, 11, no. 10, 14.Google Scholar
Fuld, G. J., Proctor, B. E. & Goldblith, S. A. (1957). Int. J. Appl. Radn. & Isotopes, 2, 35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, C. W. (1955). Metropolitan Vickers Research Series no. 12.Google Scholar
Pepper, R. E., Buffa, N. T. & Chandler, V. L. (1956). Applied Microbiol. 4, 149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Report of the Central Pathology Committee on the Sterilization of Hospital Equipment (1954). Ministry of Health.Google Scholar