scholarly journals Potential problems of inadequate air removal and presence of non-condensable gasses in a steam sterilization process: A brief discussion

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-740
Author(s):  
Tapan Kumar Das ◽  
Samir Kumar Laha ◽  
Debabrata Basu
Keyword(s):  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
Air Removal

scholarly journals Assessment of the possibility of surgical masks re-use after a sterilization process in the pandemic condition of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 004051752110428
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Zimniewska ◽  
Henryk Witmanowski ◽  
Anna Kicinska-Jakubowska ◽  
Arkadiusz Jundzill ◽  
Edyta Kwiatkowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Permeability ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Plasma Sterilization ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Waste Production ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Cover Ratio ◽  
Mechanical Ability ◽  
Sterilization Process

The aim of this study was to explore the possibility to re-use disposable masks in order to prevent excessive waste generation during the pandemic period. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused rapidly increasing waste production resulting from the necessity of common usage of disposable personal protective equipment. This research covers the evaluation of the structure of surgical masks subjected to a threefold steam, gas or plasma sterilization process in order to verify the possibility of their re-use. The results of the study showed that gas sterilization even after three cycles did not cause significant changes in mask structure or air permeability. Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization caused significant changes in the structure of layer A after the third cycle of sterilization; nonetheless, it did not influence the air permeability of the mask. A significant reduction in the cover ratio of layers composing surgical masks causes an increase of air permeability in the case of steam sterilization, leading to a reduction of the mechanical ability to prevent the penetration of microorganisms. The reduction in cover ratio limits the filtration efficiency. Surgical masks subjected to threefold gas sterilization can be recommended for re-use. This allows one to use the mask thrice, ensuring safety for users and limiting the mask-waste production to one-third of the volume compared with when the mask is used once. The volume of mask-waste can be reduced with the application of the sterilization process for used masks during the pandemic period. Currently, it is not possible to sterilize all one-use masks, but implementation of this method in hospitals and medical centers is a step in the pro-environmental direction.

scholarly journals The effect of moisture of cotton fabrics on steam sterilization

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
Yao Shen ◽  
Xiangang Li ◽  
Xianzhao Zheng ◽  
Yanbing Zhao ◽  
Xiaozhi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cotton Fabric ◽  
Thermal Equilibrium ◽  
Thermal Conduction ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Cotton Fabrics ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Moisture Concentration ◽  
Equilibrium Time ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
Effect Of Moisture

This paper is to study the effect of cotton fabric?s moisture on steam sterilization process. An experiment is designed to measure the thermal equilibrium time under different moisture concentrations. The results show that a higher moisture concentration leads to a longer thermal equilibrium time, and it does not affect the wet pack?s penetration efficiency when the moisture concentration is below the threshold value of 30%. The paper concludes that a higher humidity is unfavorable for the thermal conduction during the sterilization process.

Design of Low-Cost Solar Parabolic Through Steam Sterilization

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-60
Author(s):  
N. K. Sharma ◽  
Ashok Kumar Mishra ◽  
P. Rajgopal
Keyword(s):  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Medical Instruments ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
Evacuated Tube ◽  
Sun Light

The objective of this study is to develop a low cost solar parabolic trough that can be used for steam sterilization of medical instruments in small clinics where electricity is scarce and expensive. On the basis of theoretical concepts of parabola and focus-balanced parabola, the assembly of ribs and reflector sheet with evacuated tube and heat pipe has been done. The parabolic trough has been mounted on a trolley so that it can be moved easily according to direction of sun light. The designed solar parabolic trough was integrated with pressure cooker under various setups and experiments were conducted to test whether sterilization is taking place or not. To validate sterilization process, tests were also conducted by placing the infected medical instruments. The solar parabolic trough developed was able to generate and maintain steam at 121 degrees Celsius at pressure 15 psig (101.3 kN/m2) for 15 minutes. The solar parabolic trough developed was effective in sterilizing the medical instruments.

Steam Sterilization Validation for Implementation of Parametric Release at a Healthcare Facility

2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Swenson ◽  
Jonathan A. Wilder ◽  
Charles O. Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Biological Indicator ◽  
Quality Assurance Program ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Chemical Indicators ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
Family Based ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Hospitals are under continual pressure to improve turnaround times for surgical procedures and to find ways to release sterilized product without the need to wait for biological indicator (BI) results. Current procedures used in healthcare do not allow for release of sterilized products based on parameters because hospitals do not validate their sterilization processes. Once a sterilization process is validated for a particular product family, those loads may be released based upon evaluation of the sterilization parameters achieved in the cycle, i.e., parametric release. Typically, hospitals do not perform validation studies to demonstrate that a sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10−6 is being achieved in the sterilized product, relying instead on inactivation of BIs and/or chemical indicators (CIs) in each load. If a healthcare facility can demonstrate achievement of a SAL of 10−6 in a particular product family then it will be possible to release the products in that product family based on achievement of parameters without waiting for BI results. This does not mean that the healthcare facility can eliminate use of all BIs and CIs as part of the criteria for a comprehensive quality assurance program, but dependence on their results and the cost of their use may be greatly reduced. Validation provides another component in a quality assurance program to demonstrate that the highest SAL possible is being provided to patients while still providing the services required by today's healthcare facility.

scholarly journals Effect of non-condensable gas on heat conduction in steam sterilization process

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 2489-2494
Author(s):  
Yao Shen ◽  
Xiaozhi Wang ◽  
Zhuoya Yao ◽  
Xiangang Li
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Heat Conduction ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Gas Concentration ◽  
Pressure Steam ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
Thermal Sterilization ◽  
Semi Empirical ◽  
Gas Effect ◽  
Insight Into

Non-condensable gas has an adverse effect on heat conduction in pressure steam sterilization. An experiment was carefully designed to study the effect, and a semi-empirical formulation is obtained to predict the maximal temperature difference between outside and inside of a package. This paper gives a systematical insight into the non-condensable gas effect, and there is a threshold of the non-condensable gas concentration, beyond which the thermal sterilization becomes invalid for complete killing microorganisms.

scholarly journals A dry sterilization process for sterilized products after pressure steam sterilization

2021 ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
Zhuoya Yao ◽  
Qing Zhang ◽  
Yao Shen ◽  
Xiangang Li ◽  
Xiaozhi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vapor Pressure ◽  
Negative Pressure ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Pressure Steam ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
The Relationship

A dry sterilization process is designed as a post-processual technology of the pressure-steam sterilization. Three experiments are carried out to study the effects of negative pressure, pulsating air, and pulsating steam, respectively, on the process. Antoine's formula is used to predict the relationship between the vapor pressure and the temperature, which can be applied in practice.

scholarly journals Does Blood on “Dirty” Instruments Interfere With the Effectiveness of Sterilization Technologies?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s194-s195
Author(s):  
William Rutala ◽  
Maria Gergen ◽  
David Jay Weber
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Surgical Instruments ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Geobacillus Stearothermophilus ◽  
Surgical Instrument ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Bacillus Atrophaeus ◽  
Gas Plasma ◽  
Test Organisms ◽  
Sterilization Process

Background: Surgical instruments that enter sterile tissue should be sterile because microbial contamination could result in disease transmission. Despite careful surgical instrument reprocessing, surgeons and other healthcare personnel (HCP) describe cases in which surgical instruments have been contaminated with organic material (eg, blood). Although most of these cases are observed before the instrument reaches the patient, in some cases the contaminated instrument contaminates the sterile field, or rarely, the patient. In this study, we evaluated the robustness of sterilization technologies when spores and bacteria mixed with blood were placed on dirty (uncleaned) instruments. Methods: Dirty surgical instruments were inoculated with 1.5105 to 4.1107 spores or vegetative bacteria (MRSA, VRE or Mycobacterium terrae) in the presence or absence of blood. The spores used were most resistant to the sterilization process tested (eg, Geobacillus stearothermophilus for steam and HPGP and Bacillus atrophaeus for ETO). Once the inoculum dried, the instruments were placed in a peel pouch and sterilized by steam sterilization, ethylene oxide (ETO), or hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (HPGP). These experiments are not representative of practice or manufacturer’s recommendations because cleaning must always precede sterilization. Results: Steam sterilization killed all the G. stearothermophilus spores and M. terrae when inoculated onto dirty instruments in the presence or absence of blood (Table 1). ETO failed to inactivate all test spores (B. atrophaeus) when inoculated onto dirty instruments (60% failure) and dirty instruments with blood (90% failure). ETO did kill the vegetative bacteria (MRSA, VRE) under the same 2 test conditions (ie, dirty instruments with and without blood). The failure rates for HPGP for G. stearothermophilus spores and MRSA were 60% and 40%, respectively, when mixed with blood on a dirty instrument. Conclusions:This investigation demonstrated that steam sterilization is the most robust sterilization process and is effective even when instruments were not cleaned and the test organisms (G. stearothermophilus spores and MRSA) were mixed with blood. The low-temperature sterilization technologies tested (ie, ETO, HPGP) failed to inactivate the test spores but ETO did kill the test bacteria (ie, MRSA, VRE). These findings should assist HCP to assess the risk of infection to patients when potentially contaminated surgical instruments enter the sterile field or are unintentionally used on patients during surgery. Our data also demonstrate the importance of thorough cleaning prior to sterilization.Funding: NoneDisclosures: Dr. Rutala was a consultant to ASP (Advanced Sterilization Products)

Effect of Sterilization Processes on the Fiber/Matrix Interphase Properties of CF/PDMS Composite to be Used in Orthopaedics

2013 ◽  
Vol 586 ◽  
pp. 234-236
Author(s):  
Radek Sedláček ◽  
Tomas Suchy ◽  
Miroslav Sochor ◽  
Karel Balik ◽  
Zbyněk Sucharda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fibers ◽  
Matrix Composite ◽  
Polymer Matrix ◽  
Polymer Matrix Composite ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Micromechanical Properties ◽  
Interphase Region ◽  
Sterilization Process ◽  
Fiber Matrix

In this study we present the investigation of the influence of multiple sterilization processes on micromechanical properties carried out on a composite based on carbon fibers (CF) and polymer matrix composite polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The effect of widely-used steam sterilization process on fibers/matrix interphase region properties was studied by nanoindentation.

The memory effect in polyolefinic products: A tool for confirming the steam sterilization process

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-323
Author(s):  
Kamila Bajer ◽  
Ulrike Braun ◽  
Ingrid Hintersteiner
Keyword(s):  
Memory Effect ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Sterilization Process
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