💡 Did You Know?
How is EO Sterilization used to ensure effective and safe sterilization?
This is a question that anyone working in infection control has probably asked at least once. Ethylene Oxide (EO) – despite its inherent risks – remains the most powerful tool for processing heat- and moisture-sensitive medical instruments, with no other technology fully able to replace it.
💡 Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Sterilization:
✅ Provides absolute sterilization, completely eliminating microorganisms including spores.
✅ Low temperature (37–63°C) – safe for plastics, rubber, electronics, and optical components.
✅ Suitable for long tubular instruments such as breathing tubes, catheters, and delicate surgical devices – areas where steam or plasma sterilization may fail.
✅ Relatively low operating cost, making EO an economical choice for many hospitals in Vietnam and across Asia.
⚙️ However…
⚡ EO is highly toxic – it can cause irritation and has carcinogenic potential if not properly controlled.
🕒 Therefore, a strict aeration process (8–12 hours at 50–60°C) is required to remove residual EO, ensuring complete safety for users and patients.
📋 This mandatory aeration step, recommended by medical device manufacturers, is why the total sterilization cycle is longer.
🌿 Effectiveness and safety go hand-in-hand only when the process is tightly controlled. This is why EO gas handling and monitoring solutions are a top priority in modern sterilization centers.
💬 Are you currently using an EO sterilization system in your hospital?
👉 Follow us for more updates on infection control and international standard sterilization practices.
Content responsibility: Mr. Nguyễn Tiến Nam
📌 For more information, contact hotline: 093 955 66 66 or 096 8077 996