[Use of ethylene oxide for the sterilization of thermoplastic articles]

The author applied ethylene oxide for sterilization of articles incompatible with thermal sterilization. This method has been widely accepted in many counteries. The tests have been made in the Warsaw Medical School Clinic of Pediatric Surgery, the Polish made "Rotanox" being the source of ethylene oxide. The following items served as sterilizing chambers in this order: Polyethylene foil bags, glass flask and pressurized chambers. The gas pressure of 1 at and temperature of 40-50 degrees C were maintained in the chamber. Sterilized material was closed in the polyethylene foil bags. The effectiveness of this method was proved by bacterial tests.