Chapter 42

Disinfection and Sterilization

Martin S. Favero

Martin S. Favero

Johnson & Johnson, Irvine, CA, USA

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Walter W. Bond

Walter W. Bond

RCSA, Inc., Lawrenceville, CA, USA

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First published: 26 July 2013

Summary

Effective methods for disinfection and sterilization of pathogenic microbes are essential in healthcare settings, including the laboratory and environmental surfaces. The available methods, as well as methods for decontamination, are reviewed with particular emphasis on the hepatitis viruses. These processes are defined, and a number of physical and chemical methods are described for inactivating the hepatitis viruses. While the resistance of each of the individual species of the hepatitis viruses to heat and chemical reagents varies, none exceeds the level of resistance of bacterial spores or M.tuberculosis so that conventional procedures can be employed, including application to medical devices.

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