This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a new low-temperature sterilization system that recently has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, the Sterrad 50. Flat stainless steel carriers were inoculated with approximately 106 Bacillus stearothermophilus spores. These carriers were placed aseptically in the middle of 40-cm–long stainless steel-lumened test units of varying diameters (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm). After inoculation, the test units were processed in the Sterrad 50. After sterilization, the carriers were assayed for growth of the B stearothermophilus spores. Our data demonstrated that the Sterrad 50 was highly effective in killing the B stearothermophilus spores (no positive carriers with 30 tests of each lumen-diameter test unit). The Sterrad 50 is likely to be clinically useful for the sterilization of heat-sensitive medical equipment.

We surveyed healthcare workers to determine factors that may influence acceptance of varicella-zoster virus vaccine. Of 2,801 workers tested, 90 were susceptible to varicella; of workers offered vaccination, 68% accepted. Workers providing direct patient care were 3.7-fold more likely than other workers to accept VZV vaccination (P=.04).