The AAMI recommended practice, Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance in health care facilities, is a breakthrough standard in terms of its scope. AAMI has updated ST79 with the release of ST79:2010/A4:2013. Of particular importance, A4:2013 provides four new figures demonstrating the wrapping of items for steam sterilization and adds an annex focused on Moisture assessment. As of Oct. 25, 2013, purchasers of ST79 will receive ANSI/AAMI ST79:2010 and A1:2010 and A2:2011 and A3:2012 and A4:2014 as a single consolidated document. Among other changes from the 2006 edition of ST79, this revised and expanded second edition of ST79 includes guidance on the use and application of Class 6 emulating indicators, a chemical monitoring device fairly new to the United States. Because ST79 essentially consolidates five AAMI steam sterilization standards (whose content was reviewed and updated to reflect current good practice prior to being incorporated into ST79), it truly is a comprehensive guideline for all steam sterilization activities in healthcare facilities, regardless of the size of the sterilizer or the size of the facility, and provides a resource for all healthcare personnel who use steam for sterilization.

This book presents vital information on international sterilization standards and guidance on practical application of these standards in the manufacturing process. It covers validation, industrial sterilization methods, emerging sterilization techniques, laboratory testing, manufacturing of sterile devices, and device reuse. Excerpted from The Validator, edited by Anne F. Booth, more than fifty experts share their knowledge of current technologies in easy-to-understand articles that establish methods to ensure compliance. Contents include reviews of ISO sterilization standards, industrial sterilization methods and technologies, and support testing methodologies.

With more international contributors than ever before, Block’s Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 6th Edition, is the first new edition in nearly 20 years of the definitive technical manual for anyone involved in physical and chemical disinfection and sterilization methods. The book focuses on disease prevention—rather than eradication—and has been thoroughly updated with new information based on recent advances in the field and understanding of the risks, the technologies available, and the regulatory environments.

Antisepsis, Disinfection, and Sterilization: Types, Action, and Resistance, by Gerald E. McDonnell, is a detailed and accessible presentation of the current methods of microbial control. Each major category, such as physical disinfection methods, is given a chapter, in which theory, spectrum of activity, advantages, disadvantages, and modes of action of the methods are thoroughly and clearly presented. Sufficient background on the life cycles and general anatomy of microorganisms is provided so that the reader who is new to microbiology will better appreciate how physical and chemical biocides work their magic on microbes. Other topics in the book include: Evaluating the efficacy of chemical antiseptics and disinfectants, and of physical methods of microbial control and sterilization. Understanding how to choose the proper biocidal product and process for specific applications. Classic physical and chemical disinfection methods, such as heat, cold, non-ionizing radiation, acids, oxidizing agents, and metals. Newer chemical disinfectants, including, isothiazolones, micro-and nano-particles, and bacteriophages as control agents. Antisepsis of skin and wounds and the biocides that can be used as antiseptics. Classic methods of physical sterilization, such as, moist heat and dry heat sterilization, ionizing radiation, and filtration, along with newer methods, including, the use of plasma or pulsed light. Chemical sterilization methods that use ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, or a variety of other oxidizing agents. A detailed look at the modes of action of biocides in controlling microbial growth and disrupting microbial physiology. Mechanisms that microorganisms use to resist the effects of biocides. The second edition of Antisepsis, Disinfection, and Sterilization: Types, Action, and Resistance is well suited as a textbook and is outstanding as a reference book for facilities managers and application engineers in manufacturing plants, hospitals, and food production facilities. It is also essential for public health officials, healthcare professionals, and infection control practitioners.

Methods for processing of biological materials into useful products represent essential core manufacturing activities of the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. On the one hand the techniques involved include well established process engineering methodologies such as mixing, heat transfer, size modification and a variety of separatIon and fermentation procedures. In addition, new bioprocessing practices arising from the exciting recent advances in biotech nology, including innovative fermentation cell culture and enzyme based operations, are rapidly extending the frontiers of bioprocessing. These develop ments are resulting in the introduction to the market place of an awesome range of novel biological products having unique applications. Indeed, the United States Office of Technology Assessment· has concluded that 'competitive advantage in areas related to biotechnology may depend as much on developments in bioprocess engineering as on innovations in genetics, immunology and other areas of basic science'. Advances in analytical instrumentation, computerization and process automation are playing an important role in process control and optimization and in the maintenance of product quality and consistency characteristics. Bioprocessing represents the industrial practice of biotechnology and is multidisciplinary in nature, integrating the biological, chemical and engineering sciences. This book discusses the individual unit operations involved and describes a wide variety of important industrial bioprocesses. I am very grateful to Sanjay Thakur who assisted me in the collection of material for this book.