Gaseous Sterilization
Résumé
Low temperature sterilization has been highlighted since the development of plastic made single use of medical devices and the appearance of more and more sophisticated endoscopic tools whose constitutive materials could not bear high temperature processing.After reviewing ideal criteria of gaseous proceeding the two families of sterilizing gaseous agents, the tow families of gas, alkylating agents and oxidizing ones are reviewed, as well as new technologies based on the use of cold plasmas. Their efficacy, management and drawbacks are considered. If alkylating agents such as ethylene oxide or formaldehyde have been used for many decades their drawback (toxicity for patients, staff and environment, mutagenicity or dangerous handling) banished them in many countries. Oxidizing agents are more promising despite their corrosion power on many materials. Among them, hydrogen peroxide and ozone seem to have good characteristics if properly used. In order to enhance their efficacy, several technologies have been developed in recent years using cold plasmas to increase production of free radicals. Some have been approved and are already in field use in certain countries.Combination of several adapted technologies could be a solution to a problem which is not totally solved to the present days.