(6)
It can be used on moisture and heat sensitive items.
Table 3-1. Aeration time for articles sterilized by ethylene oxide gas (EO).
e. The disadvantages of gas sterilization are:
(1)
It is expensive compared with steam.
(2)
It is a long, slow process.
(3)
It is toxic and can be harmful to patient and hospital personnel.
(4)
It is highly flammable and explosive in pure gas form.
(5) It is more difficult to verify the effectiveness of gas sterilization. The
procedures for preparing items for sterilization, loading the sterilizer, and unloading the
sterilizer will be discussed in the next section of this lesson.
Section II. PROCESSING--COLLECTION TO STERILIZATION
3-4.
COLLECTION AND RECEIVING
a. Collection. In Lesson 1, you read about the movement of supplies and
equipment through the hospital. You were told that each hospital determines the best
delivery system for its needs and selects an appropriate procedure for processing
equipment and supplies. This procedure may call for personnel in the CMS to collect
used equipment and supplies and return them to the receiving area in CMS or it may
require the using unit to return used supplies and equipment to CMS. Regardless of
who moves the used items, a specific area in the unit is assigned for the used items and
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