Methods of Sterilization and Disinfection

Heat tolerant critical and semi-critical items must be sterilized by steam, unsaturated chemical vapor, or dry heat.^2,3 Heat-sensitive critical items can be sterilized by ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma; or by immersing them in liquid chemical germicides registered by the FDA as chemical sterilants.^2,3,6 Heat-sensitive semi-critical items minimally must undergo high-level disinfection with a chemical sterilant used as a high-level disinfectant. Non-critical items (clinical contact surfaces), when visibly soiled, must be disinfected with an EPA-registered hospital level intermediate-level disinfectant.^2-4,7-9