Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:11:09.611Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Presumed Autoclave Failure Due to False-Positive Spore Strip Tests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Inge Gurevich ,
Joyce E. Holmes  and
Burke A. Cunha
Inge Gurevich
Affiliation:
Infection Control Section, Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, Nassau Hospital, Mineola, New York
Joyce E. Holmes
Affiliation:
Infection Control Section, Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, Nassau Hospital, Mineola, New York
Burke A. Cunha*
Affiliation:
Infection Control Section, Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, Nassau Hospital, Mineola, New York
*
Infectious Disease Division, Nassau Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The sterilizing processes in autoclaves and ethylene oxide sterilizers are challenged on a regular basis with a controlled inoculum of spores from two Bacillus species. Within a two-day period in March 1980, the seven autoclaves at this 550-bed hospital appeared to have failed in their function of killing spores on 18 out of 46 test strips. A shut-down of the autoclaves and a massive investigation failed to identify any mechanical, physical, or human failures. However, after 48 hours, it was found that the broth used as growth medium contained a contaminant, Bacillus coagulans, that resulted in broth turbidity at 55°C. Incubating an uninoculated tube of trypticase soy broth (TSB) for quality control at 55°C in addition to the usual 37°C quality check is a recommended safeguard against such occurrences.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 3 , Issue 5 , October 1982 , pp. 388 - 396
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Perkins, JJ: Principles and Methods of Sterilization in Health Services, ed 2. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C Thomas, 1978, pp 488–493.Google Scholar
2. Bowie, JH, Kelsey, JC, Thomson, GR: The Bowie-Dick autoclave tape test. Lancet 1963;1:586–587.Google Scholar
3. Lennett, EH, Spaulding, EH, Truant, JP (eds): Manual of Clinical Microbiology. Washington, American Society for Microbioloby, 1974. pp 862–887.Google Scholar
4. Wilson, GS, Miles, A: Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology, Virology and Immunity. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Co, 1975, pp 1081–1104.Google Scholar
5. Aber, RD, Appelbaum, PC: Pseudoepidemic of endocarditis in patients undergoing open heart surgery. Infect Control 1980;1:97–99.Google Scholar