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S T A M P I N G
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cycle time from shortest to longest:
• Peracetic acid. Peracetic acid's 23-minute cycle makes it a good just-intime sterilization method for heat-sensitive devices you'll use immediately
(see "Tips for Integrating New Flash Containers" on page 41).
• Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma. A hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
cycle takes 28 to 55 minutes, depending on the sterilizer. Keep in mind
that all items must be wrapped and only dry items can be sterilized.
These self-contained sterilizers don't need plumbing or exhaust. The
multi-use cassettes allow for the correct amount of sterilant to be dispensed with each load. This method has limitations on the length and
diameter of lumens of devices to be sterilized, making it less than
ideal for flexible endoscopes. Each instrument must be completely
dry before it's wrapped in order for the sterilizer to work properly.
Wet instruments will cause the cycle to abort. Air-drying each instrument before wrapping helps ensure everything is dry and will reduce
the chance of aborted cycles. Remember, the 2 leading culprits of
aborted cycles are moist instruments and overloaded units.
• Vaporized hydrogen peroxide. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizes
devices in pouches or wrapped trays at 122°F during a 55-minute cycle. It
requires no special utilities or venting. Don't use vaporized hydrogen peroxide for polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate instruments that
will come in contact with the eye.
• Ethylene oxide. The cycle time for ethylene oxide can be 12 hours or
more for each load to properly aerate. A sterile processing manager
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | N O V E M B E R 2012
