Sterilization Process Research Articles

Evaluation of Awareness and Knowledge Levels of Dental Assistants on Dental Materials and Sterilization Processes

Objective: The aim of this study is to measure the knowledge level of materials and equipment for endodontics and pedodontics, as well as sterilization and disinfection procedures, of dental assistants in dental institutions and intern oral and dental health technician students studying at college. Methods: Four hundred ninety-eight people, including dental assistants working in public, private and university institutions, between the ages of 18-65, and students of the Oral and Dental Health Technician School of Universities, participated in the study. A questionnaire was applied to the participants. With the help of the survey consisting of different questions, the participants' knowledge levels about pedodontic and endodontic materials and sterilization procedures were measured. Results: The knowledge level of dental assistants about dental materials was found to be low in 5.2% of the participants, medium in 32.5% of the participants, and high in 62.3% of the participants. There isn’t any significant difference between the assistants' knowledge level and their gender (p=0.23), age group (p=0.09), educational status (p=0.41), professional experience (p=0.51), certification (p=0.39), and the institution that they work for (p=0.24). Conclusion: It was found that dental assistants have a lack of knowledge in this subject. It is thought that planning and perform regular training education programmes in terms of both acquiring new information and repeating existing information can be effective for eliminating the deficiencies of dental assistants.

Updated review of wet pack complications in pulse vacuum pressure steam sterilisation processes in central sterile supply departments.

The quality of sterilisation and disinfection in a central sterile supply department is directly related to the quality of the hospital services and the patients' safety. Wet packs occasionally occur following the process of pressure steam sterilisation; reducing this occurrence is an important issue. Therefore, the causes of wet pack following sterilisation were analysed to identify the influencing factors and suggest improvements to prevent its occurrence. Understanding the sterilisation process and possible causes of exposure helps with risk assessment and identifying necessary corrective measures.

The Process of Sterilizing Tattoo Inks Releases Formaldehyde

Introduction: Around 12% of Europeans and 20% of Americans have at least one tattoo. Tattoo inks, the substances used to create tattoos on the body, consist of chemicals that contain formaldehyde, which can be harmful to human health. The amount of formaldehyde present in commercially available tattoo inks and its causes are not well understood. Methods: We investigated the levels of formaldehyde in tattoo ink products sold in different countries and identified the factors contributing to its production. We also explored methods to reduce formaldehyde generation in tattoo inks. Seven tattoo inks from various brands were tested. Results: Formaldehyde release was predominantly associated with gamma radiation sterilization. Formaldehyde levels were observed to be higher in compositions containing organic components compared to those with inorganic components, irrespective of sterilization method and container type. Glycerin released over seven times more formaldehyde than other components during gamma-ray sterilization. Conclusion: The results suggest that the presence of hydroxyl groups in carbon organic compounds in tattoo ink leads to photodegradation during gamma-ray radiation sterilization, resulting in increased concentrations of formaldehyde. Further research is needed to examine the chemical reactions occurring during sterilization processes and identify alternative sterilization methods that minimize formaldehyde formation. Additionally, the development of tattoo inks with reduced formaldehyde content and the establishment of strict quality control measures can help ensure the safety of tattooing practices.

Biomechanical aspects of radiation sterilization of composite material “Carbon FC” for medicine

The process of volumetric sterilization by gamma-irradiation of composite cellular material actively used for bone defect replacement in medicine is studied. The purpose of this study is to substantiate the necessary doses of gamma-irradiation for sterilization of highly porous carbon material "Carbon-FC" without reducing its mechanical characteris-tics. The technique of volumetric sterilization of the material under study and its testing for microbiological sterility is described. The results of mechanical tests of samples be-fore and after gamma-irradiation are given. Recommendations on selection of ionizing radiation doses providing microbicidal effect without reduction of strength properties during compression of the material under study are given.

DEVELOPMENT OF MICROPROCESSOR BASED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMA STERILIZER WITH ULTRASONIC CAVITATION

The programmable controller for ozone-plasma sterilizer for programmatic operation of the units and continuous monitoring of the sterilization process has been developed. The design of the controller is based on the model of the PIC18F series microcontroller of the XLP family. The software that ensures the operation of the plasma sterilizer (control and monitoring of parameters) is written in a specialized C++ software in the MPLAB IDE processing environment under the Windows 10 operating system.

Effect of retort processing, containers and motion types on digestibility of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) starch

SummaryWith the growing demand for convenient and shelf‐stable canned beans, understanding the changes in starch digestibility due to retort processing is crucial for optimising nutritional quality and enhancing consumer health. The present study investigated the impact of retort processing, specifically container type and agitation, on the digestibility of black bean starch. Retort pouches exhibited a more rapid heat transfer rate to the enclosed product than cans, which reduced the overall processing duration. Also, the processing time to achieve a Fo = 6 of Clostridium botulinum was almost 2.5 min (pouches) and 3.2 min (cans) faster for the oscillating than the static mode. The in vitro digestibility data revealed that the retort processing of black beans led to an increase in rapidly digestible starch (RDS) from 10.51% to 32.11%. However, slowly digestible starch (SDS) decreased from 15.67% to 7.89%, and resistant starch (RS) decreased from 47.91% to 11.86%, regardless of the container type and motion involved. Processing enhanced starch digestibility in all the combinations of container and motions; nevertheless, black beans in pouches with oscillatory motion still contain a relatively significant amount of SDS and RS than the other combinations. These findings have important implications for the food industry in optimising processing techniques and packaging strategies to preserve the nutritional value of black beans. The findings of this study can have practical implications for food producers engaged in the retort processing of foods contained in pouches and cans. The investigation will provide insights into how the process of retort sterilisation affects digestibility, including slowly digestible starch and resistant starch of different types of starch.

Proteome of spores from biological indicators in sterilization processes: Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus atrophaeus.

Bacillus atrophaeus and Bacillus pumilus spores are widely used as biological indicators to assess the effectiveness of decontamination procedures. Spores are intricate, multi-layered cellular structures primarily composed of proteins, which significantly contribute to their extreme resistance. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive proteome analysis of spores is crucial to identify the specific proteins conferring spore resistance. Here, we employed a high-throughput shotgun proteomic approach to compare the spore proteomes of B. atrophaeus DSM675 and B. pumilus DSM492, identifying 1312 and 1264 proteins, respectively. While the overall number of proteins found in both strains is roughly equivalent, a closer examination of a subset of 54 spore-specific proteins revealed noteworthy distinctions. Among these 54 proteins, 23 were exclusively detected in one strain, while others were shared between both. Notably, of the 31 proteins detected in both strains, 10 exhibited differential abundance levels, including key coat layer morphogenetic proteins. The exploration of these 54 proteins, considering their presence, absence, and differential abundance, provides a unique molecular signature that may elucidate the differences in sensitivity/resistance profiles between the two strains.

Advancement in Tissue Culture Techniques for Fruit Crops

Tissue culture is a highly promising approach that enables the efficient propagation of many plants from tiny fragments of the parent plant within a relatively brief timeframe and confined area. Tissue culture, a contemporary approach, is primarily employed for the efficient and extensive replication of many commercially significant plant species, such as the date palm. Utilizing the tissue culture technique presents a potential approach for generating a substantial quantity of genetically homogeneous palm plants that resemble other plants and yield typical fruit within four years from initial planting. Furthermore, this technique allows to produce date palm plants devoid of diseases, exhibiting an exceptionally high survival rate of nearly 100% when compared to the traditional vegetative propagation of shoots, owing to the robustness of their root system. The process of surface sterilization holds significant importance in the production of explants for in vitro studies, as it effectively addresses the issue of bacterial and fungal contamination originating from field sources, which might vary considerably across different fruit plant species. The efficacy of tissue culture techniques for date palm acclimatization in vitro is contingent upon the observation of leaf count prior to transplantation in the greenhouse. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the determinants that govern the tissue culture of fruit trees. India is known for being the native land of various fruit crops that are both significant and minor in terms of their importance. These crops include Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), Karonda (Carissa carandas L.), Bael (Aegle marmelos Corr.), Jamun (Syzygium cuminii L.), and jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.), etc. These fruits possess considerable nutritional, medicinal, and therapeutic value, making them highly valuable in commercial sectors such as medicine, food, and cosmetics. The limited availability of suitable planting materials imposes constraints on the commercial production process for these crops. Using plant tissue culture techniques holds promise in substantially augmenting the number of novel cultivars or genotypes inside fruit crops. The primary aim of this review study is to consolidate and synthesize the extant body of knowledge about the tissue culture techniques employed in cultivating various fruit crops.

Effect of Repeated Use of Different Types of Scan Bodies on Transfer Accuracy of Implant Position.

Some components of implant treatment are reusable. Therefore, possible changes during fixation, removal, and sterilization process should be tested. Many studies have examined the reuse of implant parts, but the impact of repeated use of scan bodies on the accuracy of implant position has not been well investigated. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the effect of repeated use of two different types of scan bodies on the accuracy of implant position. In this in vitro experimental study, two acrylic resin maxillary models, each with two implant analogues inserted at the site of missing first and second molars were used. Two types of scan bodies including titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were used for digital impression. Then they were ten times removed and autoclaved for sterilization. The first scan was considered as a reference to be compared with the other next nine scans. Values of linear distance between two scan bodies, diameter changes of each scan body, and three-dimensional linear displacement (ΔR) were measured. These values were compared between the two types of scan bodies using t-test (α=.05). There was significant difference between titanium and PEEK scan bodies regarding inter-implant distance variation (p=.006) and diameter change (p< .001) in repeated use. However, for the ΔR, there was no significant difference between them (p= 0.759). The results demonstrated that type of scan body could affect the accuracy of implant position transfer after repeated use. PEEK scan body performed better after 9 cycles of reuse in comparison with titanium scan body.

Review of Piezoelectrical Materials Potentially Useful for Peripheral Nerve Repair.

It has increasingly been recognized that electrical currents play a pivotal role in cell migration and tissue repair, in a process named "galvanotaxis". In this review, we summarize the current evidence supporting the potential benefits of electric stimulation (ES) in the physiology of peripheral nerve repair (PNR). Moreover, we discuss the potential of piezoelectric materials in this context. The use of these materials has deserved great attention, as the movement of the body or of the external environment can be used to power internally the electrical properties of devices used for providing ES or acting as sensory receptors in artificial skin (e-skin). The fact that organic materials sustain spontaneous degradation inside the body means their piezoelectric effect is limited in duration. In the case of PNR, this is not necessarily problematic, as ES is only required during the regeneration period. Arguably, piezoelectric materials have the potential to revolutionize PNR with new biomedical devices that range from scaffolds and nerve-guiding conduits to sensory or efferent components of e-skin. However, much remains to be learned regarding piezoelectric materials, their use in manufacturing of biomedical devices, and their sterilization process, to fine-tune their safe, effective, and predictable in vivo application.

Optimal UV Quantity for a Ballast Water Treatment System for Compliance with Imo Standards

Abstract Ballast water management is an effective measure to ensure that organisms, bacteria and viruses do not migrate with the ballast water to other areas. In 2004, the International Maritime Organization adopted the International Convention on the Control and Management of Ballast Water and Ship Sediments, which regulates issues related to ballast water management. Many technologies have been researched and developed, and of these, the use of UV rays in combination with filter membranes has been shown to have many advantages and to meet the requirements of the Convention. However, the use of UV furnaces in ballast water treatment systems requires a very large capacity, involving the use of many high-power UV lamps. This not only consumes large amounts of electrical energy, but is also expensive. It is therefore necessary to find an optimal algorithm to enable the UV radiation for the UV controller in the ballast water sterilisation process to be controlled in a reasonable and effective manner. This controller helps to prolong the life of the UV lamp, reduce power consumption and ensure effective sterilisation. This paper presents a UV control algorithm and a controller for a UV furnace for a ballast water treatment system installed on a ship. The results of tests on vessels illustrate the effect of the proposed UV controller.

Non-Sterile Gloves as a Source of Radiation-Tolerant Microorganisms.

Radiation methods are widely used for disinfection and sterilization applications. Microorganisms demonstrate known, variable tolerance levels to inactivation with lower doses of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation based on multiple mechanisms of resistance in their structures and nucleic acid repair mechanisms. The radiation dose required to ensure microbial inactivation during sterilization is typically based on the understanding and routine monitoring of the natural population and resistance of microorganisms on products exposed to radiation sterilization processes. This report describes the isolation of Roseomonas mucosa in a device manufacturing environment that was detected during routine device bioburden and dose verification monitoring. Sources of Gram-negative bacteria in the environment were investigated. Non-sterile examination gloves used during manufacturing were found to be a persistent source of R. mucosa and other microbial contaminants. The source of contamination was determined to be from the glove manufacturing process. Maintenance and routine microbiological controls during glove manufacturing, including water systems, are required to reduce the risks of gloves being a source of unexpected microbiological contamination.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Cannabinoid, Terpene, and Moisture Content of Cannabis Biomass

In recent years, cannabis has been proposed and promoted not only as a medicine for the treatment of a variety of illnesses, but also as an industrial crop for different purposes. Being an agricultural product, cannabis inflorescences may be contaminated by environmental pathogens at high concentrations, which might cause health problems if not controlled. Therefore, limits have to be placed on the levels of aerobic bacteria as well as yeast and mold. To ensure the safety of cannabis plant material and related products, a remediation process has to be put in place. Gamma irradiation is a sterilization process mainly used for pharmaceuticals, foods, cosmetics, agricultural, and herbal products including cannabis plant material. This study was designed to determine the effect of irradiation on the microbial count as well as on the chemical and physical profiles of the cannabis biomass, particularly cannabinoids, terpenes, and moisture content. The full cannabinoid profile was measured by GC/FID and HPLC analysis, while terpene profile and moisture content were determined using GC/MS and Loss on Drying (LoD) methods, respectively. Analyses were conducted on the samples before and after gamma irradiation. The results showed that the minimum and maximum doses were 15 and 20.8 KiloGray (KGY), respectively. Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC) and Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC) were determined. The study showed that irradiation has no effect on the cannabinoids and little effect on terpenes and moisture content, but it did result in the virtual sterilization of the plant material, as evidenced by the low levels of bacterial and fungal colony-forming units (CFUs) &lt; 10 after gamma irradiation.

What is the Marginal Intraoperative Cost of Using an Exoscope or Operative Microscope for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion? A Time-Driven Activity-Based Cost Analysis

Our primary objective was to compare the intraoperative costs of 3 different surgical visualization techniques for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Specifically, we used time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) methodology to compare costs between ACDFs performed with operative microscopes (OM-ACDF), exoscopes (EX-ACDF), and loupes (loupes-ACDF). Total cost was divided into direct and indirect costs. Individual costs were obtained by direct observation, electronic medical records, and through querying multiple departments (business operations, sterile processing, plant operations, and pharmacy). Timestamps for all involved personnel and material resources were documented. We identified all instances of loupes-ACDF (n= 882), EX-ACDF (n= 26), and OM-ACDF (n= 52) performed at our institution. We performed multivariable linear regression analyses to compare costs between these modalities, accounting for patient-specific factors as well as number of levels fused, surgeon, and hospital site. The average total intraoperative costs per loupes-ACDF, EX-ACDF, and OM-ACDF cases were $7081+/- $2,942, $7951+/- $3,488, and $6557+/- $954, respectively. Regression analysis revealed no difference in intraoperative cost between loupes-ACDF and EX-ACDF (P= 0.717), loupes-ACDF and OM-ACDF (0.954), or OM-ACDF and EX-ACDF (0.217). On a more granular level, however, EX-ACDF was associated with increased cost of consumables, including drapes, compared to both OM-ACDF (β-coefficient: $369+/- $121, P= 0.002) and loupes-ACDF (β-coefficient: $284+/- $86, P= 0.001). Although hospitals may be aware of the purchasing fees associated with microscopes and exoscopes, there is no clear documentation of how these technologies affect intraoperative cost. We demonstrate a novel use of TDABC for this purpose.

A method to investigate sterilization processes and the bacterial inactivation resolved in time and space

A method to investigate sterilization processes and the bacterial inactivation resolved in time and space

Performance evaluation of the sterilization process with Bowie & Dick test and biological indicator in the quality control of a blood bank in Peru.

Managing contaminated waste in blood banks is a crucial process that must end with the safe disposal of blood products. In this sense, practical methods and indicators must be used to guarantee the operability of autoclave equipment and the sterility of treated waste to mitigate the risk of biological exposure and hospital biosafety. We designed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the performance the autoclaving process with Bowie & Dick test and biological indicator at the Hemotherapy and Blood Bank Unit of the Cayetano Heredia Hospital in Peru. Fifty autoclaving processes were carried out independently for the Bowie & Dick tests and biological indicators based on Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores. Autoclaving was programmed at 134°C for 3.5 minutes for the Bowie & Dick test, while, for the biological indicator, it was programmed at 121°C for 5 minutes. Both in the presence of contaminated waste. The autoclaving process evaluated by the Bowie & Dick test had a compliance rate of 80% (CI95: 66.3%-90.0%), while, by the biological indicator, 90% (CI95: 78.2%-96.7%). We did not find significant differences between the results of both tests (P = .689; Fisher exact test). The compliance rate in the autoclaving process within the blood bank of a Peruvian Hospital is acceptable; however, there are actions for continuous improvement, especially at the vacuum level in the autoclaving process.

Sterilization of oil palm fruit utilizing continuous microwave sterilizer

This study evaluates the performance of a continuous microwave device in the sterilization of oil palm fruits spikelet. The device comprises four microwave generators (magnetron), a tunnel cavity driven by a belt conveyor, and a tray as a container for palm fruit. This study aims to evaluate the distribution and penetration of microwave energy into palm fruit and to examine the quality of palm oil concerning power density and residence time adjusted in this study. Continuous microwave sterilizer was operated at various masses of oil palm fruit (0.5, 1, 1.5 kg), residence time (6, 8, 10, 12, 14 min), and microwave power (180, 300, 450, 600, 800 W). The resulting temperature in this study ranged from 39 to 97 °C. Observation of the temperature gradient inside-out of a single fruit indicates the interior temperature at the kernel nut is always higher as compared to exterior temperature (abscission layer), with temperature differences ranging from 3 to 23 °C. A minimum power density of 300 W/kg, a residence time of 6 min, and a temperature of 50 °C were required to produce palm oil with FFA less than 5%. Performance indicators of the prototype used in this study are a number of moisture loss dan oil quality. The moisture loss during the sterilization process was around 0.5 to 10.6% which indicates some water content in the fruit, while the content of water, FFA, β-carotene and vitamin E ranging between 1.9 and 17.6%, 0.32-1.74%, 186.14-608.59 ppm and 165.47-610.17 ppm, respectively. © 2001 Elsevier Science. All rights reserved.

Case Carts in Surgical Settings

What Is the Issue?&#x0D; Case carts are commonly used in perioperative practice to transport surgical instruments and supplies to and from surgical settings in a timely manner. Open case carts are easy to manoeuvre and clean, while closed case carts effectively contain both sterile and contaminated surgical supplies during transport. Appropriate selection of case carts for surgical settings may support effective workflow processes, infection prevention and control measures, and personnel safety.&#x0D; What Did We Do?&#x0D; To inform decisions about appropriate selection of case carts, CADTH sought to identify and summarize the literature comparing infection control and personnel safety between open and closed case carts. An information specialist conducted a search of peer-reviewed and grey literature sources. CADTH also attempted to identify guidelines about the appropriate use of case carts in surgical settings.&#x0D; What Did We Find?&#x0D; No studies directly evaluating the comparative clinical effectiveness of open versus closed case carts or guidelines concerning their use in surgical settings were identified that met the inclusion criteria for this review. Research focused on the management of infection control and prevention and personnel safety is needed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of open and closed case carts and inform guidance concerning the selection of open versus closed case carts in surgical settings.&#x0D; What Does It Mean?&#x0D; Without any comparative effectiveness evidence, decision-makers may want to consider the organizational features (e.g., sterile processing workflow systems, transport distance to the operating room) to inform the choice of either open or closed case carts. Measures to promote personnel safety when using any case cart may include training for use as well as cart inspection and monitoring processes.

The influence of electron beam and gamma irradiation on paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles of fully randomized copolymers in relation to potential sterilization

The presented report describes the evaluation of the influence of e-beam and γ-radiation on properties of the newly developed anticancer drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on biodegradable polymeric matrices: poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(l-lactide) (PLA), poly(l-lactide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) (PLACL) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-glycolide) (PCLGA), in relation to potential sterilization process. The physicochemical properties of the pharmaceutical formulations of paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded nanoparticles, as well as the basic polymeric matrices, were studied after irradiation with γ-rays and e-beam at sterilization dose 25 kGy. The structure of the polymers was found to be practically intact after the irradiation. Importantly, no PTX-related degradation products were detected after the irradiation. The results demonstrate, that the polyester based DDSs can realize sustained and controlled release of PTX. The kinetics of drug release were defined as first order with non-Fickian diffusion for all systems. The obtained results demonstrated a great potential of e-beam for the sterilization purposes of polymeric nanoparticles. In comparison, some effect on PTX release from the γ-irradiated copolymeric nanoparticles was observed due to faster polymer degradation.

The Surgical Instrument Sterilization Process: What Every Surgeon Should Know.

» The phases of the sterilization process for surgical equipment are cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.» Following manufacturer and regulatory guidelines will minimize contamination throughout the sterilization process.» Immediate use steam sterilization, when used appropriately, is a reasonably safe option to be used at the discretion of the operating surgeon.