EFHSS Questions and Answers - Answer to Question Q00077

DEAR SIRS/MADAM,

PLEASE FURNISH US WITH THE LATEST NEWS OR ARTICLE REGARDING THE USE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE 100% VS FORMALDEHYDE 2% CONCENTRATION. IF YOUR AWARE ABOUT THE TRENDS IN EUROPEAN UNION REGARDING THE MENTIONED METHODS OF LOW TEMPERATURE STERILIZATION PLEASE LET US KNOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

GEORGE PAPAIOANNOU
CYPRUS

Dear George,

I just can give you the trends for Belgium regarding low temperature sterilization.

• Formaldehyde sterilization didn't find general acceptance in our CSSD's.
  People who bought - 10 to 15 years ago - a formaldehyde sterilizer found this sterilization process difficult to controll and gradually left it.
• What Ethylene oxide concerns:
  After the ban on the use of CFK's most hospitals went to the use of sterilizers with cartridges with 100% EO.
  The Medical Device Directive (CEE/93/42) produced as side-effect that re-use of single use devices was questioned with the result that all (most) hospitals stopped this practice.
  With this also the need for EO sterilization was lowering in such a way that some hospitals could outsource to the industry (IBA - Griffith) what's left for EO.
  The protection of personnel, patient and environment stays a problem for hospitals that still use EO for sterilization.
• As a result the new (relatively) trend in Belgium in low temperature sterilization is the use of Gasplasma (Sterrad, ASP - J and J). A good method if you take the limitations into account.

Kind regards,
Wim Renders

Dear George,

I can provide you with a study from the mid-eighties, where a Swiss specialist compared the two sterilisation methods. Since the principle method didn't change since than, I believe it is still worth reading it. Unfortunately, the study is only available in German language. But if you give / send me your postal address, I'll send you a copy.

To the more general discussion:

In Switzerland the situation is slightly different to the one in Belgium:
Most units used in hospitals are EtO machines (in total 130 EtO sterilisers, 90% of them use 100% EtO) and the FO population is stable (about 20 machines) or even declining. Today most Swiss hospitals make their choice between EtO and Plasma. But knowing and taking into account all the limitations of the Plasma sterilisers more than half of the hospitals go for EtO.

I hope, this helps and kind regards

Florian Weinig

I am very much interested in studying the German Literature on Ethylene oxide vs Formaldehyde. How can i possibly acquire the literature?

Thank you much.