outbreak in its tracks. When the FDA released supplemental measures
for the reprocessing of sensitive instruments later that year, EtO was
the only sterilization method mentioned by name. But by 2015, most
hospitals had done away with their EtO sterilizers.
Instead of reverting back to the bygone days of EtO sterilization, the
latest low-temperature technologies offer new high-efficiency meth-
ods. We're not talking about traditional bulky EtO chamber systems,
with their external compressors, fixed water lines and big storage
areas for tanks. Those systems fell out of favor because they didn't
offer full protection for workers against EtO exposure. But in the last
few years, we've seen a renewed interest in EtO sterilizers. The big
reason: They work well to eradicate hard-to-kill bacteria.
The newer sterilizers provide the proven reliability of EtO while
using only a fraction of the gas of the traditional chambers. The newer
models can sterilize endoscopes and instruments, and still meet the
strictest air quality mandates and regulations.
Given the longer cycle times of gas sterilization, most hospitals will
not choose to reprocess all of their temperature-sensitive items with
EtO. However, due to the increasing threat of multi-drug-resistant
organisms and superbugs, there is a growing consensus that many
types of endoscopes will be moving toward required sterilization —
and these next generation EtO systems are making that a real and
A P R I L 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 5
cedures. "You want to know you have enough supplies and trays
to meet procedure volumes," says Mr. Libutan.
Instrument tracking also helps when it's time to buy instru-
ments, adds Mr. Libutan. By documenting your average and
maximum usage for each instrument tray, tracking lets you pri-
oritize your purchasing decisions and invest in instruments and
implants that are in regular rotation. — Matthew Nojiri
