Performance evaluation of bactericidal effect and endotoxin inactivation by low-temperature ozone/hydrogen peroxide mixed gas exposure.

Abstract

This study evaluated the performance of a new O₃ /H₂ O₂ mixed gas sterilization instrument for killing microorganisms and inactivating bacterial endotoxin at low temperatures. Sterility assurance level was achieved by an over 6-log reduction of Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 12980, and the decimal reduction value was 0.77 min in sterilization mode. A reduction of over 3 logs in Limulus amebocyte lysate coagulation activity of purified endotoxin from Escherichia coli was observed after treatment in endotoxin-inactivation mode. The same inactivation ability was observed when treating dried bacterial cells. Biomaterials made of polymer or metal did not exhibit cytotoxicity after gas exposure at O₃ concentrations below 200 ppm. As the results of human cell-based pyrogen testing, significant amounts of endotoxin that were over the limit for medical devices contacting cerebrospinal fluid (2.15 EU/device) were detected on scissors washed with a washer-disinfector and sterilized with ethylene oxide or autoclaving. In contrast, endotoxin decreased to 0.29 ± 0.05 EU/device after O₃ /H₂ O₂ mixed gas sterilization in endotoxin-inactivation mode. Compared to conventional gas sterilization methods, O₃ /H₂ O₂ mixed gas has high sterilization ability and a strong capacity to inactivate endotoxin. It is expected that this sterilization technology will improve the safety of reusable medical devices and utensils for regenerative medicine.