Why does it take so long to sterilize with Oxyfume?
A. Because the ethylene oxide [EO] in the Oxyfume penetrates so deeply into the devices being sterilized, it takes a long time to get that EO back out.Deep penetration is a unique EO benefit. EO can reach and kill germs in difficult-to-reach spots. But, materials that can kill germs are usually not good for people. So, to make the devices safe for patients, we take several hours to aerate them – to get the EO, which we used to kill germs, back out of the devices before we return them to the operating suite. With today’s new sterilizer aeration control units, hospitals can start the Oxyfume sterilizer as late as 8 PM and have devices ready for use by 6 AM, the next morning. Ask your Oxyfume sterilant specialist, or contact us, for more information.
