Preliminary Evaluation of an Activated Glutaraldehyde Solution for Cold Sterilization

Antimicrobial Activity, Uses and Mechanism of Action of Glutaraldehyde

“…The main advantages claimed for its use as a chemosterilizer are: (1) its broad spectrum of activity, especially good sporicidal properties; (2) its activity in the presence of organic matter; (3) its rapid antimicrobial action; (4) its non-corrosive action towards metals, rubber, lenses and most materials, although it has been suggested that some formulations may not fulfil these criteria (Ayliffe et al 1979); (5) its lack of deleterious effects on cement or lenses of bronchoscopes, cytoscopes or telescopes, and (6) its mild odour, inability to irritate and ease of use. Rittenbury & Hench (1965) were among the first workers to recommend glutaraldehyde for cold sterilization of haemostats, cytoscopes, food containers and anaesthetic equipment. These recommendations were further confirmed by Ross (1966), Haselhuhn et al (1967), George (1975) and Lin et al (1979).…”

Inactivation of Enterovirus by Glutaraldehyde

“…Glutaraldehyde has been studied (3, 4) as a disinfectant against a number of bacteria and bacterial spores, but the literature on the effect on viruses seems very limited (5)(6)(7). Prompted by the need for disinfectants for use where chlorine compounds and formalin seems less desirable, the present study was carried out using an apparently very stable strain of coxsackievirus B3.…”

A Critical Look at Chemical Disinfection of Anaesthetic Apparatus

“…Elimination of the air from the reservoir bag was always incomplete also. DISCUSSION Joseph and Shay (1952) demonstrated high levels of contamination of breathing circuits with streptococci, and Gross (1955) and Rittenbury and Hench (1965) have shown contamination with a variety of pathogenic bacteria. Jenkins and Edgar (1964) showed that pathogens within a patient's respiratory tract readily contaminate anaesthetic equipment, and Henschel, Hollman and Just (1959) showed experimentally that bacteria in anaesthetic tubing could be transmitted to patients during anaesthesia.…”

“…Both physical and chemical methods are available for the disinfection of anaesthetic tubing and reservoir bags, and there have been reports of disinfection of these items by immersion in a variety of disinfectants, including glutaraldehyde (Rittenbury and Hench, 1965;Ross, 1966;Meeks, Pembleton and Hench, 1967). Barrow and Meynell (1966) noted the difficulty in removing pockets of air from corrugated tubing, and Jenkins and Edgar (1964) and Williams and his colleagues (1966) were of the opinion that chemicals might fail to reach inaccessible areas of some types of equipment.…”