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Sporicidal Activity of Chemical Sterilants Used in Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

William A. Rutala ,
Maria F. Gergen  and
David J. Weber
William A. Rutala*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Maria F. Gergen
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
David J. Weber
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*
Division of Infectious Diseases, CB #7030 Burnett-Womack 547, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030
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Abstract

Objective:

The current study was designed to assess the sporicidal activity of chemical sterilants using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) sporicidal test. Chemical sterilants are used most commonly in the healthcare setting to disinfect medical instruments such as endoscopes. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of several newer formulations of glutaraldehydes and hydrogen peroxide as chemical sterilants.

Design:

Using the AOAC test the following agents were tested: two 2% alkaline glutaraldehydes (2% Alk-Glut), 2% acid glutaraldehyde (2% Acid Glut), 2% glutaraldehyde-7.05% phenol-1.20% sodium phenate, 10% glutaraldehyde-0.5% phenylphenol-0.1% tertiary amylphenol, and 6% hydrogen peroxide (H202). Growth in > 1 of 60 seeded penicylinders is considered by the AOAC to indicate failure of sporicidal activity,

Results:

Test results of the six disinfectants against Bacillus subtilis using the manufacturers' specified use-dilution and exposure time were: 0/60 with 2% Alk-Glut (product 1) at 10 hours, 0/60 with 2% Alk-Glut (product 2) at 8 hours, 0/60 with 2% Acid Glut at 10 hours, 2/60 with 2% glutaraldehyde-7.05% phenol-1 .20% sodium phenate at 6.75 hours, 0/60 with a 1:5 dilution (2.0% Glut) of 10% glutaraldehyde-0.5% phenylphenol-0. 1% amylphenol at 6 hours, 59/60 with a 1:20 dilution (0.5% Glut) of 10% glutaraldehyde-0.5% phenylphenol-0.1% tertiary amylphenol at 12 hours and 0/60 with 6% H202 at 6 hours. Test results against Clostridium sporogenes were: 2/60 with 2% Alk-Glut (product 1) at 10 hours, 1/60 with 2% Alk-Glut (product 2) at 8 hours, 1/60 with 2% Acid Glut at 10 hours, 2/60 with undiluted 2% glutaraldehyde-7.05% phenol-1.20% sodium phenate at 6.75 hours, 6/60 with a 1:5 dilution (2% Glut) of 10% glutaraldehyde-0.5% phenylphenol-0.1% amylpenol at 6 hours, 60/60 with a 1:20 dilution (0.5% Glut) of 10% glutaraldehyde-0.5% phenylphenol-0.1% amylpenol at 12 hours, and 0/60 with 6% H202 at 6 hours. Dilutions of 2% glutaraldehyde-7.05% phenol-1.20% sodium phenate yielded the following results against C sporogenes: 59/60 with a 1:8 dilution (0.25% Glut) at 6.75 hours, 60/60 with a 1:16 dilution (0.125% Glut) at 6.75 hours, 11/90 with a 1:8 (0.25% Glut) dilution at 12 hours, and 60/60 with a 1:16 dilution (0.125% Glut) at 12 hours.

Conclusions:

Both 2% acid and alkaline glutaraldehydes are effective chemical sterilants. Diluting glutaraldehyde-based sterilants below 2% glutaraldehyde resulted in failure to kill spores of B subtilis and C sporogenes.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 14 , Issue 12 , December 1993 , pp. 713 - 718
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1993

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