| Endotoxin levels in steam and reservoirs of table-top steam sterilizers. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11828908 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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PURPOSE: To document endotoxin levels in "Statim" cassette sterilizer reservoirs and in steam delivered to the cassette in the unwrapped instrument cycle. To document endotoxin levels in sterilizer reservoir water using different management protocols. METHODS: Endotoxin levels were determined using the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test. Endotoxin preparations were from Escherichia coli and Ralstonia pickettii. All samples were collected in depyrogenated glassware and stored at -20 degrees C until assayed. RESULTS: The majority of water samples contained < 1.0 Endotoxin Unit (EU)/ml. The highest level found in sterilizers in clinical use was 5.3 EU/ml. Endotoxin was not detected in steam condensate within the limits of the assay. When the endotoxin level in the reservoir water was experimentally enhanced to 200 EU/ml, cassette steam condensate endotoxin levels were from 0.5% to 5% of the reservoir level. Daily and weekly emptying of the cassette reservoir consistently yielded low endotoxin levels as did monthly emptying, but with the latter there was a trend toward higher levels that favors weekly emptying as a precautionary measure. CONCLUSIONS: Endotoxin levels in the reservoirs of 23 sterilizers involving 240 samplings were never high enough to yield detectable endotoxin levels in steam in the sterilizer cassette. Regular weekly emptying of sterilizer reservoirs would eliminate the risk of endotoxin transfer during steam sterilization. |
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Authors:
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James L Whitby; Victoria M Hitchins |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of refractive surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995) Volume: 18 ISSN: 1081-597X ISO Abbreviation: J Refract Surg Publication Date: 2002 Jan-Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2002-02-06 Completed Date: 2002-11-07 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9505927 Medline TA: J Refract Surg Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 51-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. jwhitby@uwo.ca |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Ambulatory Care Endotoxins / analysis* Equipment Contamination* Escherichia coli Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci Limulus Test Sterilization / instrumentation* Water Microbiology* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Endotoxins |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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