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Comparison of a Rapid Readout Biological Indicator for Steam Sterilization With Four Conventional Biological Indicators and Five Chemical Indicators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

William A. Rutala ,
Suzanne M. Jones  and
David J. Weber
William A. Rutala*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Suzanne M. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
David J. Weber
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*
547 Bumett-Womack, CB #7030, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030
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Abstract

Objective: In this study, we compare a new biological indicator that provides results within 3 hours with four conventional, 48-hour biological indicators and five chemical indicators.

Design: Biological indicators tested included the conventional Attest 1262, Proof Plus, Assert, and Biosign, and the new Attest 1292 Rapid Readout biological indicator. Chemical indicators tested included Comply, Propper, Chemdi, Sterigage, and Thermalog S. Spore survival following 121°C in a gravity displacement sterilizer was measured by media color change after incubation for 24 and 48 hours at 56°C for the conventional biological indicators, fluorescence at 3 hours for the Attest 1292 Rapid Readout biological indicator, and color change for the chemical indicators. Each exposure time was replicated 12 times with five samples of each indicator per run (ie, 60 replicates per indicator).

Results: At 48 hours, the conventional biological indicators Attest 1262, Proof Plus, Assert, and Biosign showed 100%, 95%, 88%, and 93% spore survival at 5 minutes' exposure; 0%, 0%, 0%, and 8% at 10 minutes; and all showed 0% survival at 15 minutes' exposure. Following a 3hour incubation, the Attest 1292 Rapid Readout biological indicator showed fluorescence at 100%, 72%, and 0% at 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively. The chemical indicators Comply, Propper, Chemdi, Sterigage, and Thermalog S revealed sterilization failure rates of 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% at 5 minutes' exposure; 0%, 0%, 0%, 92%, and 100% at 10 minutes; and, 0%, 0%, 0%, 3%, and 27% at 15 minutes' exposure, respectively.

Conclusions: The sensitivity of the Attest 1292 Rapid Readout biological indicator parallels that of conventional biological indicators. These data suggest that a 3hour rapid readout biological indicator is equivalent to a standard 48-hour biological indicator. Some chemical indicators (eg, Thermalog S) failed to indicate adequate sterilization at 15 minutes' exposure. These chemical indicators have the potential of causing unnecessary recall of adequately sterilized items.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 17 , Issue 7 , July 1996 , pp. 423 - 428
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1996

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