Real-time sterilization microbiology - role of flow cytometry

Abstract

Sterile medical devices provide critical care and diagnostic applications where sterility is validated by demonstrating the inactivation of reference Biological Indicators (BIs). However, BI’s are qualified using conventional culture-based methods that may limit the ability to fully appreciate the bacterial inactivation kinetics of a sterilization process such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2). This timely study reports on potential for use of flow cytometry (FCM) as a real-time enumeration technique that overcomes such limitations. It also provides novel insights into killing kinetics to support and advance sterilization processes.