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A Comparative Study of Ethylene Oxide Gas, Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma, and Low-Temperature Steam Formaldehyde Sterilization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Keiji Kanemitsu ,
Takayuki Imasaka ,
Shiho Ishikawa ,
Hiroyuki Kunishima ,
Hideo Harigae ,
Kumi Ueno ,
Hiromu Takemura ,
Yoshihiro Hirayama  and
Mitsuo Kaku
Keiji Kanemitsu*
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Takayuki Imasaka
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Systems, Central Uni Co. Ltd., Onojo, Fukuoka, Japan
Shiho Ishikawa
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Hiroyuki Kunishima
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Hideo Harigae
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Kumi Ueno
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Hiromu Takemura
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Yoshihiro Hirayama
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Systems, Central Uni Co. Ltd., Onojo, Fukuoka, Japan
Mitsuo Kaku
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
*
Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi Aobaku Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan[email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

To compare the efficacies of ethylene oxide gas (EOG), hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (PLASMA), and low-temperature steam formaldehyde (LTSF) sterilization methods.

Methods:

The efficacies of EOG, PLASMA, and LTSF sterilization were tested using metal and plastic plates, common medical instruments, and three process challenge devices with narrow lumens. All items were contaminated with Bacillus stearothermophilus spores or used a standard biological indicator.

Results:

EOG and LTSF demonstrated effective killing of B. stearothermophilus spores, with or without serum, on plates, on instruments, and in process challenge devices. PLASMA failed to adequately sterilize materials on multiple trials in several experiments, including two of three plates, two of three instruments, and all process challenge devices.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that PLASMA sterilization may be unsuccessful under certain conditions, particularly when used for items with complex shapes and narrow lumens. Alternatively, LTSF sterilization demonstrates excellent efficacy and is comparable to EOG sterilization. LTSF could potentially act as a substitute if EOG becomes unavailable due to environmental concerns.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , May 2005 , pp. 486 - 489
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

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