Sterilization: Ethylene Oxide

Although its posterior industrial applications included pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and raw materials of biological origin, ethylene oxide (EtO) is predominantly used in the sterilization process of medical devices, such as intravenous sets, cardiopulmonary devices, and anesthesiology devices. In the hospital environment, the EtO was largely contributed as one of the main agents responsible for the controversial increase in the reutilization of single-use medical devices. This entry first details the characteristics of EtO and the mechanisms of ethylene oxide sterilization, then moves to an overview of the technology and emission controls related to EtO sterilization.