At a glance
Table 9 from the Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008).
Characteristics of an ideal low-temperature sterilization process
- High efficacy: the agent should be virucidal, bactericidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal and sporicidal
- Rapid activity: ability to quickly achieve sterilization
- Strong penetrability: ability to penetrate common medical-device packaging materials and penetrate into the interior of device lumens
- Material compatibility: produces only negligible changes in the appearance or the function of processed items and packaging materials even after repeated cycling
- Nontoxic: presents no toxic health risk to the operator or the patient and poses no hazard to the environment
- Organic material resistance: withstands reasonable organic material challenge without loss of efficacy
- Adaptability: suitable for large or small (point of use) installations
- Monitoring capability: monitored easily and accurately with physical, chemical, and biological process monitors
- Cost effectiveness: reasonable cost for installation and for routine operation
Modified from Schneider. 851