Abstract

HIDALGO RODRIGUEZ, Roxana; CASTELLANOS FERNANDEZ, Vivian M; CHIROLES DESPAIGNE, Sonia  and  VILLAVICENCIO BETANCOURT, Odalys. Dispositivos médicos de uso único reprocesados por esterilización química mediante óxido de etileno. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2002, vol.40, n.2, pp. 89-94. ISSN 1561-3003.

The concentration values of ethylene oxide residuals in medical equipment of unique use processed 4 times by chemical sterilization with this gas as a sterilizing agent are determined.The evaluations were carried out in catheters used in semicritical operations at risk of contacting sterile tissue. The residuals were extracted by means of organic solvents and their quantitative determination was made by a spectrophotometric method. It was observed a decrease of the residuals levels in a minimal time of 3 days after a first resterilization of the equipment. It was observed an increase in the concentration of residuals by adherence of the material to the surface in successive resterilizations of the same equipment. It was observed a deterioration of the material that was invisible at a glance after the third resterilizarion, which brings about risks of infection for the patient and problems with the functioning of the equipment.

Keywords : EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES; ETHYLENE OXIDE; STERILIZATION [instrumentation]; STERILIZATION [methods]; CROSS INFECTION [prevention & control]; SPECTROPHOTOMETRY; SOLVENTS.

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