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The Presterilization Microbial Load on Used Medical Devices and the Effectiveness of Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Against Bacillus Subtilis Spores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Thereza Christina Vessoni Penna ,
Carlos Augusto M. Ferraz  and
Maria Águida Cassola
Thereza Christina Vessoni Penna*
Affiliation:
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brasil
Carlos Augusto M. Ferraz
Affiliation:
Johnson & Johnson Produtos Profissionais Ltda, São Paulo, Brasil
Maria Águida Cassola
Affiliation:
Johnson & Johnson Produtos Profissionais Ltda, São Paulo, Brasil
*
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USP-São Paulo University, Rua Antonio de Macedo Soares, 452, São Paulo 04607-000, Brasil
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Abstract

Objectives:

To determine the microbial load found on used critical medical devices (5 spinal anesthesia needles, 21 catheters, and 28 sheaths) prior to sterilization and to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma against inoculated Bacillus subtilis var giobigii (American Type Culture Collection 9372) spores.

Methods:

Membrane filter and pour-plate methods were applied to estimate total microbial loads (aerobic and anaerobic, mesophilic and thermophilic, vegetative and spore forms). Spinal anesthesia needles (102 units) and sheath components (61 units) were inoculated with a suspension of B subtilis spores. After drying, the devices were sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas plasma.

Results:

Higher counts of aerobic, mesophilic, and fungal organisms were recovered when the drying period was insufficient. Anaerobic spores were not found in any analyzed presterilization items. The hydrogen peroxide gas plasma effected a 5 to 7 log10-fold reduction in B subtilis spore counts in well-dried needles and sheath components.

Conclusions:

The success of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization depends mostly on educating the staff to assure well-cleaned and dried reusable medical devices, allowing penetration of the hydrogen peroxide gas plasma into the critical points of the items and providing a reduction in organisms.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 20 , Issue 7 , July 1999 , pp. 465 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

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