Radiation sterilization refers to the method of putting sterilized articles into gamma rays radiated by suitable radioactive sources or electron beams of ionizing radiation generated by suitable electron accelerators to kill microorganisms. Medical instruments, containers, production AIDS, raw materials and finished products that are not damaged by radiation can be sterilized by this method.
Dry-hot sterilization refers to the method of putting articles in dry-hot sterilization cabinets, tunnel sterilizers and other equipment to kill microorganisms or eliminate pyrogens with dry-hot air. Suitable for high temperature, but not for moist heat sterilization.
Sterilized articles, such as glassware, metal containers, fiber products, solid reagents and liquid paraffin, can be sterilized in this way.
Wet-heat sterilization refers to the method of putting articles in a pressure steam sterilizer and spraying superheated water to denature protein and nucleic acid in microbial cells and kill microorganisms. This method has strong sterilization ability and is the most effective and widely used sterilization method in thermal sterilization.
Filtration sterilization is a method to remove microorganisms in gas or liquid by using the principle that bacteria cannot pass through dense and empty filter materials. It is usually used to sterilize thermally unstable pharmaceutical solutions or raw materials.
Ozone sterilization method, ozone is a strong oxidant, and the sterilization process belongs to biochemical oxidation reaction.
Gas sterilization refers to the method of killing microorganisms with gas formed by chemical disinfectants. Commonly used chemical disinfectants include ethylene oxide, gaseous hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde and ozone (O3). This method is suitable for sterilization of articles that are stable in gas. When using gas for sterilization, attention should be paid to the flammability, explosiveness, teratogenicity and residual toxicity of the sterilized gas.
The most commonly used gas in gas sterilization method is ethylene oxide, which has strong bactericidal power and wide bactericidal spectrum, and can kill various microorganisms including bacterial spores, and belongs to sterilization agent. Generally, 80%~90% inert gas is mixed and carried out in a high-pressure chamber filled with sterilization gas.
Ethylene oxide does not damage sterilized articles, and has strong penetrating power. It can generally be used to sterilize articles that cannot be sterilized at high temperature, such as medical devices and plastic products. For example, electronic instruments, optical instruments, medical instruments, books, documents, furs, cotton, chemical fibers, plastic products, wood products, ceramics and metal products, endoscopes, dialyzers and disposable medical supplies. Ethylene oxide is also one of the most important low temperature sterilization methods at present. In particular, articles containing chlorine and articles that can adsorb ethylene oxide should not be sterilized with ethylene oxide.
When ethylene oxide is used for sterilization, the temperature, humidity, sterilization gas concentration and sterilization time in the sterilization cabinet are important factors affecting the sterilization effect.