A workshop on steam sterilisation of dental instruments at the University of Glasgow Dental School covered subjects ranging from recent steam sterilisation changes in Scotland, to how transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents can be inactivated by steam, writes IHEEM in instrument decontamination and validation engineer at the School, and the event’s organiser.
“The idea for the workshop,” he explained, “came after some colleagues of Professor Andrew Smith (professor of Clinical Bacteriology at the University, and lead consultant for decontamination at Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS) – Dr Joost van Doornmalen, and Professor Klaas Kopinga, from Eindhoven University – asked if they could look at our work in Scotland, with a view to us collaborating. Professor Smith, who knew of their work into sterilisation of narrow channels, and of our PhD student, Sandra Winter’s research into sterilising narrow lumens within dental handpieces (sponsored by Glasgow University and handpiece/ benchtop steriliser manufacturer, W&H), felt this would be a good idea. “Sandra Winter had been also asked to try data loggers, alongside the more ‘traditional’ thermocouples, to gather information within the steriliser and lumens, and we discovered that others in Scotland were investigating using data loggers as an alternative way of validating sterilisers. We hoped all this information gathering would inform us of the best method. Data loggers for daily testing “This brought in Ellab product manager, Geoff Shaw, and 3M’s Dr Brian Kirk; other test persons in Scotland, John McPherson of Forth Valley NHS, and Gary Cullen of Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS, were already using data loggers for daily testing, and evaluating them for quarterly and annual testing. Because of Sandra Winter’s research into contamination within the lumens of the dental handpiece, and the information already published on contaminants, Professor Smith asked Karen Fernie from Edinburgh University’s Roslin Institute to talk about their evidence on vCJD within the population. We were also keen to cover standards and guidance. “In all about 70 speakers and delegates attended the workshop, which began with Professor Smith discussing the ‘relationship’ that Glasgow has always had with steam.
Legislation and standards
“Dr Brian Kirk, senior technical specialist at main sponsor, 3M Healthcare, a Fellow of IHEEM and AE (D), then presented on legislation, published international standards, and local guidance, related to decontamination of re-usable medical devices, with a focus on steam sterilisation. He introduced the notion of ‘news flashes’, explaining the latest status of the Medical Devices Directive and the Machinery Directive, and focusing on the standards relating to sterilisation processes and equipment. He also discussed the latest revision of BS EN 285, the standard for large steam sterilisers, and the fact that the EU had decided it would have to consider the requirements of the Machinery Directive. “As part of this revision, Dr Kirk explained that a number of significant technical comments had been received, which could potentially completely change the nature of the document, such as the removal of clauses on the manner in which the performance of air detectors was established, and a change in the NCG content of steam proposed by France (from 3.5% v/v to 45% v/v, a suggestion rejected by committee).
Standard’s revision
“Dr Kirk also described the ongoing work to revise EN 867-5, the standard for chemical indicators and test devices for small steam sterilisers. “David Ingle, an IHEEM member and AE (D) for Health Facilities Scotland, described his experience with challenges in terms of standards and legislation, highlighted current standards, and discussed what would be expected when undertaking research projects on steam sterilisation. Dr van Doornmalen and Professor Kopinga then described the optimal layout of a dental office, and discussed their software for monitoring steam penetration into lumens. “Later, the Roslin Institute’s Karen Fernie described the Institute’s research on inactivation of TSE agents by steam, and the lack of supporting funding. Sandra Winter described her investigation into steam penetration into dental handpieces using Type N sterilisation processes, and Geoff Shaw presented on Ellab’s history, and its products for validating sterilisation using wireless loggers. “The final presentation, by Sirona’s Mads Hofmann, focused on the DAC Universal, a Type S sterilisation method for dental handpieces, and the Danish company’s investigations into steam penetration into dental handpieces.”
