THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON ETHYLENE OXIDE STERILIZATION
Abstract
Bacterial cells once dehydrated beyond a critical point no longer react uniformly to ethylene oxide sterilization procedures. The percentage of cells that are resistant to the lethal effect of ethylene oxide after cell desiccation is often small, sometimes only 0.001 to 0.01%. However, 5% resistant cells have been observed with one type microorganism dried in broth. The presence of organic matter increases the percentage of cells that become resistant to ethylene oxide after dehydration. The phenomenon is produced by exposing cells to a vacuum or a chemically desiccated atmosphere. It is not a permanent change, as the resistant cells rapidly become normal if directly wetted with water. Yet, mere exposure to a high relative humidity, following desiccation requires 6 and 4 days, respectively, to overcome this resistant effect. Moisture content studies show less water in bacterial cells that have been desiccated and then equilibrated to successively higher relative humidities up to 100% than in cells that have not been desiccated, but allowed to dry naturally until equilibrated to the same relative humidities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0427563
Entities
People
- Charles R. Phillips
- David R. Spiner
- George L. Gilbert
- Robert K. Hoffman
- Vernon M. Gambill
Organizations
- United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories