Health Devices. 1999 Nov;28(11):430-55.
Low-temperature sterilization technologies are used instead of steam for sterilizing heat-sensitive or moisture-intolerant surgical equipment and supplies. In this Guidance Article, we describe several common alternatives, but we focus specifically on the two that have generated the most interest in recent years: ethylene oxide (EtO) and gas plasma sterilization. Ethylene oxide has been used as a low-temperature sterilization technology since the 1950s. Although EtO can be used safely, exposure to this gas is known to be a health hazard, and the emissions from certain EtO sterilizers are known to pollute the atmosphere. For these reasons, the use of EtO is regulated--more strictly in some regions than in others--and many healthcare facilities have decided to investigate alternative technologies. Gas plasma sterilization emerged in the 1990s as one promising alternative. This method appears to pose fewer health and environmental risks, and it offers faster turnaround times. However, this technology also has some limitations. We describe the advantages and disadvantages of both methods, along with the factors to consider when selecting from among these alternatives, in this Guidance Article.
低温灭菌技术用于替代蒸汽，对热敏或不耐湿的手术设备及用品进行灭菌。在本指导文章中，我们描述了几种常见的替代方法，但特别关注近年来最受关注的两种方法：环氧乙烷（EtO）和气体等离子体灭菌。自20世纪50年代以来，环氧乙烷一直被用作低温灭菌技术。虽然EtO可以安全使用，但已知接触这种气体会对健康有害，并且某些EtO灭菌器的排放物会污染大气。由于这些原因，EtO的使用受到监管——在一些地区比其他地区更严格——许多医疗机构已决定研究替代技术。气体等离子体灭菌在20世纪90年代出现，是一种有前景的替代方法。这种方法似乎对健康和环境造成的风险较小，并且周转时间更快。然而，这项技术也有一些局限性。在本指导文章中，我们描述了这两种方法的优缺点，以及从这些替代方法中进行选择时需要考虑的因素。
