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3 Benefits Of Using EO Device Sterilization On Medical Instruments

16 November 2021 by Joann Dunn

If you need to sterilize a range of medical instruments, then you have to find the best way to keep your devices clean and hygienic. Ethylene oxide (EO) treatments are a good place to start. What are the advantages of this type of sterilization?

1. Target Multiple Organisms

Medical devices can be contaminated by various dangerous organisms. So, your sterilization techniques need to be able to eradicate anything harmful. You can't leave any trace of any organism on a device.

Some sterilization techniques work better on some organisms than others. However, if you use EO sterilization, then you get more of a one-size-fits-all solution. EO disrupts an organism's molecules at cellular and reproductive levels. It can kill off or inactivate all kinds of bacteria, viruses, molds, and even insect species. You get a generalized but targeted sterilization process.

2. Avoid Device Damage

Some medical devices have fragile parts and materials which don't always cope well with some sterilization techniques. For example, some plastics or polymers break down, melt or degrade if they come into contact with too much heat or cold. Other materials can't cope with the moisture that comes with steam techniques. Sterile devices are of no use to you if they break in the cleaning process.

EO sterilization is effective but gentle. This gaseous low-temperature process won't harm most materials; it also works well on different materials at the same time.

So, you can use one sterilization system for all your devices rather than having to use different systems for different materials. This is also a useful solution if you need to sterilize medical devices which contain a combination of different materials. You might not be able to put multi-material items through other sterilization processes. EO cleaning is the perfect fit here.

3. Sterilize Through Packaging

You might need to sterilize some medical items, such as dressings, in their packaging. However, packaging can affect some sterilization processes. For example, steam sterilization might deform some wrapping materials. Or, it might permeate through the outer wrapping and make the item inside wet. In some cases, you can't effectively sterilize something in a sealed pack because the packaging blocks the sterilization medium.

One of the biggest advantages of using EO here is its ability to permeate through packaging materials without affecting them or their contents. The packaging won't be damaged in the process; it also can't block out the sterilization medium.

To learn more, contact EO sterilization service providers.  

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