The study published in Infectious Diseases in Health, dated August 2025, focuses on current practices in surgical implant sterilization across the Asia-Pacific region. The survey involved a comprehensive examination of various hospitals and healthcare facilities within the region.
The survey discovered that ethylene oxide (EO) is widely used as a sterilizing agent for surgical implants in the majority of participating institutions. However, a significant number of facilities also employ alternative methods such as steam sterilization (autoclaving) and gas plasma sterilization.
The findings reveal that the average cycle time for EO sterilization varies among facilities, ranging from 24 to 72 hours. On the other hand, autoclaving cycles typically last between 15-30 minutes at temperatures reaching up to 134°C and pressures of 2.0 atm or more.
Interestingly, the study also reports that a notable portion of facilities surveyed still employ dry heat sterilization using an oven, despite this method not being recommended for long-term storage or sterilization of implants by ISO, AAMI, and CDC guidelines.
In addition to these methods, some hospitals in the region are exploring newer technologies like hydrogen peroxide vapor and cold plasma sterilization for surgical implant sterilization. The survey suggests that adoption rates of these advanced techniques remain relatively low compared to more traditional methods.
Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the current state of surgical implant sterilization practices across the Asia-Pacific region and offers potential areas for improvement based on international guidelines.