Medical Equipment Decontamination: A Major Issue for the Sector

The Medical equipment decontamination is a major concern for industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Complete elimination of microorganisms is crucial to ensure the safe use of equipment. This process is not something to be taken lightly. Each piece of equipment requires a personalized and rigorous solution, compliant with current standards. With over 60 years of expertise in decontamination, IONISOS employs technical processes tailored to your needs.

Understanding Decontamination and Using It Effectively

Decontamination, often required by healthcare professionals or the pharmaceutical industry, is not synonymous with sterilization. It differs mainly in its objective. The former aims to reduce the microbial load rather than rendering the product sterile, as the latter would. Decontamination is therefore suitable, among other situations, for raw materials used in the manufacture of a medical device, or for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. This initial stage of treatment will reduce the microbial population and facilitate the subsequent cleaning of equipment.

The method used for decontamination, however, is similar. One will use either a radiation or gas process, defining in advance the level of decontamination desired. Less stringent than sterilization, decontamination of medical devices allows for the treatment of products with lower sterility requirements. Just like with sterilization, the product will not be altered in appearance or functionality. Methods such as ethylene oxide treatment, which operates at low temperatures, are well-suited for the decontamination of medical equipment.

However, decontamination is not suitable for certain surgical instruments and medical devices, which will require sterilization to reliably eliminate all microorganisms on both small and large volumes of equipment.

A Trusted Partner for Decontaminating All Medical Devices

To successfully carry out your personalized procedure for sterilization or decontamination of medical products, IONISOS offers you decades of expertise and a dedicated contact who can handle any request with precision and responsiveness. Together, we will define the process to be used and the necessary dose for the proper decontamination of your products, based on their nature and packaging.

Ionizing radiation treatment – gamma or beta – generally allows for the processing of large volumes of products directly in their packaging. The products, including liquids, are then exposed to the rays in a concrete chamber. Ethylene oxide treatment, on the other hand, will be applied to materials incompatible with radiation.

The choice between ionizing radiation or ethylene oxide treatment depends on the type of product, its volume (e.g., pallet or package), its density, and the manufacturer’s recommendations. A thorough understanding of the processes is essential to provide a service that meets the desired level of decontamination. As experts in the field, the teams at IONISOS advise you to ensure a high-quality, safe result that meets the highest standards.