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Shelf life of sterilized packed items stored in CSSD of a Vietnam University Medical Center

Part of: APSIC 2024

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2025

Nguyen Vu Hoang Yen
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Vu Thi Cham
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Trinh Thi Thoa
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Pham Thi Thuy
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Duong Thi Tam
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Hoang Kim Ngan
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Lu Thi Mong Huong
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Thai Hong Van
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Nguyen Thi Mong Huyen
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Tran Hoang Thanh
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Nguyen Duc Duy
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Nguyen Do Phuong Thao
Affiliation:
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
Le Vo Hong Tuyet
Affiliation:
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
Huynh Minh Tuan*
Affiliation:
University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
*
Corresponding author : Huynh Minh Tuan, MD., PhD. ((+84) 909.349.918; huynh.tuan@umc.edu.vn)

Abstract

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Background: In University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC), shelf life of sterilized packed items has been followed by time-related principle. However, duration of sterility has not been based on strong scientific evidence. Objectives: To determine the most appropriate shelf life for sterilized products according to packaging material and sterilization methods. Methods: All the experimental and the control samples (surgical instruments and linen) were prepared by four types of packaging materials (peel pouch, nonwoven, linen, and rigid container) and three types of sterilization methods (steam, Hydrogen Peroxide, Ethylene Oxide). After sterilization, sterilized samples were stored at CSSD’s storage and tested for microbial contamination in 07 periods: after 07 days, 14 days, 01 month, 03 months, 06 months, 12 months, and 18 months. Identification of the storage environment (shelf location, temperature, and relative humidity) were recorded as the same time collected samples. Results: Positive microbial cultures were seen in 0.44% (07 samples) of 1,574 samples. Up to 18 months, no organisms was cultured from any sample of (1) autoclaved surgical instrument packages wrapped in peel pouches, nonwoven, linen, (2) Hydrogen Peroxide sterilized surgical instrument packages wrapped in nonwoven, (3) Ethylene Oxide sterilized surgical instrument packages, and (4) autoclaved linen packages wrapped in nonwoven. Organisms detected were both Gram–Positive and Gram-Negative bacteria. Just only approximately 17% control samples grew bacteria. There was no any statistically significant relationship between positive experimental samples and packaging materials, sterilization methods, or storage conditions. Conclusions: Based on results of this experiment, shelf life of sterilized packed items should be still followed by time-related principle in UMC. However, the currently shelf life can be extended to reduce unnecessary costs and increase the usage rotation.

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Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America