For each item in the following list, give a reasonable method of sterllization.

Question

For each item in the following list, give a reasonable method of sterllization. Your choice of method is limited by the following conditions: 1- method must sterilze, not just disinfect. 2- method must not destroy the item or render it useless unless there is no other choice. 3- where an object containing something is given, you must sterlize everything using the same method. In other words if you need to sterilize a jar with Vaseline You cannot claim that the jar is sterilized by method A and the vaseline is sterilized by method B. you need to be very specific...for example, you can't just say moist heat since not all the methods that use moist heat are capable of sterilization. 4- 5- you can only use the same method twice. Some examples of the methods are autoclaving, using ethylene oxide, dry oven, gamma radiation, etc. Item/object Method of Sterilization 1 Room air 2 Blood in a syringe 3 Plastic petri plates 4 Aflask of nutrient agar 5 Talcum powder 6 Liquid Vitamins 7 Mail contaminated with anthrax spores 8 Fruits in plastic bags 9 Packaged bandages 10 Vaccines

Explanation / Answer

1. Room air: HEPA filter and UV radiation can be used for sterilization of room air. HEPA filters can filter the particles of size range 0.03 microns with 99.97% efficiency and can be successfully employed to sterilize the room air. Alternative Beta propiolactone can also be used(2-4 mg per litre of space at 250C) for sterilization. It is used in sterilization of operation theatres and aseptic rooms. It is non inflammable, but carcinogenic and can alos causes irritation, blisters and burns when contacted with skin. Etylene oxide can also be used

2. Blood in syringe: If the blood is not going to be used furhter Incineration gamma radiation method can be used. If a glass syringe is used and needs to be sterilized by removing blood autoclaving is done. Photodynamic sterilization can also be used for this purpose

3. Plastic petri plates: Gamma radiation can be used for sterilization of plastic petri plates. Since plastic is not heat stable, gamma radiation can be successfully employed to sterilze plastic petri plates

4. A flask of nutrient agar: Flame autoclave. As nutrient agar can withstand higher temperatures, autoclaving can be used.

5. Talcum powder: Ethylene oxide gas or Hot air oven. Since, Talc may be potential source for spores of Clostridium tetani, it should be sterilzed by ethylene oxide or Hot air oven

6. Liquid vitamins: Ionizing radiation using gamma or x rays. Basing upon the nature of vitamins used either gamma rays or x rays can be used as the first choice. But since gamma radiation and x rays were already mentioned in the table Sterilization can be done by filteration through Bacteria proof filters

7. Mail contaminated with anthrax spores: Gamma radiation can be used.

8. Fruits in Plastic bags: Gamma radiation is the best method. But since it was said that no sterilization method can be used more than twice, the best alternative is to use X rays

9. Packaged Bandages: Ethylene oxide can penetrate the wrapping and found to be effective for sterilization of packaged bandages

10. Vaccines: Since Vaccines are thermolabile, they are sterilized by filteration through bacteria proof filters like Ceramic filters, Seitz filters, Sintered glass filters, Membrane filters, Sintered metal filters etc

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