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Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rutala, WA; Gergen, MF; Sickbert-Bennett, EE; Weber, DJ
Published in: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
April 2020

OBJECTIVE: To compare the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies (vaporized hydrogen peroxide [VHP], ethylene oxide [ETO], and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma [HPGP]) to steam sterilization in the presence of salt and serum to simulate inadequate precleaning. METHODS: Test carriers were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, Mycobacterium terrae, Bacillus atrophaeus spores, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, or Clostridiodes difficile spores in the presence of salt and serum and then subjected to 4 sterilization technologies: steam, ETO, VHP and HPGP. RESULTS: Steam, ETO, and HPGP sterilization techniques were capable of inactivating the test organisms on stainless steel carriers with a failure rate of 0% (0 of 220), 1.9% (6 of 310), and 1.9% (5 of 270), respectively. The failure rate for VHP was 76.3% (206 of 270). CONCLUSION: Steam sterilization is the most effective and had the largest margin of safety, followed by ETO and HPGP, but VHP showed much less efficacy.

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Published In

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1559-6834

Publication Date

April 2020

Volume

41

Issue

4

Start / End Page

391 / 395

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vancomycin Resistance
  • Temperature
  • Sterilization
  • Steam
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Spores, Bacterial
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Rutala, W. A., Gergen, M. F., Sickbert-Bennett, E. E., & Weber, D. J. (2020). Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 41(4), 391–395. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.2
Rutala, William A., Maria F. Gergen, Emily E. Sickbert-Bennett, and David J. Weber. “Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 41, no. 4 (April 2020): 391–95. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.2.
Rutala WA, Gergen MF, Sickbert-Bennett EE, Weber DJ. Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 Apr;41(4):391–5.
Rutala, William A., et al. “Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, vol. 41, no. 4, Apr. 2020, pp. 391–95. Pubmed, doi:10.1017/ice.2020.2.
Rutala WA, Gergen MF, Sickbert-Bennett EE, Weber DJ. Comparative evaluation of the microbicidal activity of low-temperature sterilization technologies to steam sterilization. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 Apr;41(4):391–395.
Journal cover image

Published In

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1559-6834

Publication Date

April 2020

Volume

41

Issue

4

Start / End Page

391 / 395

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vancomycin Resistance
  • Temperature
  • Sterilization
  • Steam
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Spores, Bacterial
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Humans