Question

Read statement provided and answer the questions:

The final result of the sterilization process requires the absolute absence of living forms from the surface and bulk of the item.

1.Which destructions implies this sterilization process?

2.From Where comes the achievement of the sterility status?

3.Provide one example of medical devices sterilization.

Answer 1

Sterilization is a process by which all living microorganisms including viable spores are either destroyed or removed from an article, body surface or medium.

1) It implies destruction or inactivation of microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, fungus and spores.

2) The achievement of the sterility status comes from the Sterility Assurance Level (SAL).

Sterility Assurance Level is the probability that a single unit that has been subjected to sterilization nevertheless is non sterile. It is never possible to show that all microorganisms are destroyed/Inactived. It is because the likelihood of survival of an individual microorganism is never zero.

Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) of 10^-6 is considered as standard for medical devices and defines the probability of 1 in 10,00,000 that the device is not sterile.

3) Examples of medical device sterilization :-

• Heat sensitive items such as endoscopes, sutures, catheter, respirators, dental equipments are sterilized by Ethylene oxide.

• Clinical thermometer by isopropyl alcohol.

• Metallic surgical instruments by Autoclaving.

• Contact lenses and tonometer biprisms by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).