The Managing Infection Control publication includes an interesting twist for 2009.\u00a0 This year\u2019s Sterilization Technology Showcase isn\u2019t just about managing exposure to pathogens.\u00a0 It also touches on protecting employees from chemicals as well.\u00a0 In many cases, the danger of exposure comes from the very equipment and processes used to control microbial threats.\u00a0 The Steri-Trac Monitoring System from CemDAQ is designed to address this problem.\u00a0 The 2009 Showcase provides interesting information about how sterilization equipment can be monitored for safety.<\/p>\n
Gas sterilizers are most often used to disinfect temperature sensitive instruments such as endoscopes.\u00a0 There are a number of different chemicals that can be used in this process and some are more toxic than others.\u00a0 OSHA and the CDC have studied the effects of exposure to each of these gases and set parameters on what is considered a safe exposure level.\u00a0 Not surprisingly, these limits are very low.\u00a0 Acute exposure can have immediate and devastating consequences; but even small quantities of these chemicals can cause problems if employees are in contact with them over extended periods of time.<\/p>\n
Ethylene Oxide gets most of the bad press since it has been shown to cause cancer in humans.\u00a0 Although this gas does have a distinctive odor, a large amount has to leak before this smell is detectible to the average person.\u00a0 By that time the level of exposure may be over 500 times the maximum safe limit determined by OSHA.<\/p>\n
Hydrogen Peroxide vapors are virtually odorless making it impossible for anyone to notice a leak by smell alone.\u00a0 Unlike the 3% hydrogen peroxide sold over the counter at the grocery store, medical sterilizers may use concentrations as high as 90%.\u00a0 This is an extremely caustic substance and unsafe for direct contact or inhalation.\u00a0 Corneal ulcers, skin blistering, and permanent lung damage can be some of the consequences of exposure to concentrated HP.<\/p>\n
The final byproduct at the end of an O3 sterilizer cycle is simple oxygen.\u00a0 This is why it is often advertised as an environmentally friendly sterilization method.\u00a0 However, exposure to the concentrated ozone that is created for injection into the chamber can be very harmful to the lungs.\u00a0 This gas does have a sharp, irritating smell but it becomes less noticeable over time as people get used to it.\u00a0 That means a leak could occur and keep getting worse with no one the wiser.<\/p>\n
No piece of machinery is completely failure proof.\u00a0 Accidental exposure can occur due to a leaky valve or faulty seal.\u00a0 Failure to properly service and maintain equipment is an oversight that increases the risk of gas and vapor leakage.\u00a0 Operator error and poor or improper ventilation are other common causes of exposure.<\/p>\n
The Steri-Trac is designed to immediately alert personnel to the presence of unsafe levels of toxic gases before they get out of control.\u00a0 Since the system monitors EtO, O3, and Hydrogen Peroxide, it only needs to be installed once.\u00a0 If a facility chooses to switch gas sterilizer types during an upgrade, the Steri-Trac will still be compatible.<\/p>\n
Visual and audible alarms are programmed to go off in the event of a gas leak.\u00a0 The displays can be read remotely so no one has to actually enter a dangerous area to review the alert message.\u00a0 Up to 8 separate monitors can be tracked from a central location.\u00a0 Detailed, long term record keeping is done automatically to comply with OSHA regulations.\u00a0 Best of all, freshly calibrated sensors can be delivered on a set schedule from CemDAQ so that the entire system is always operating at peak performance.<\/p>\n