tangent
12-12-01, 00:53
for the use of pressure cookers as autoclaves for thispurpose, see
V. Balraj, et al, Sterilization of syringes and needles for
immunization programmes using a pressure cooker.
J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1990 Apr;93(2):119-120.
>
Okay, a fast primer on minimum equipment sterilization
of reuseable injection equipment. This is for all glass
syringe sets and all metal needles or needles with plastic
locks identified as reuseable by the manufacturers -
the disposable needle sets use plastic that can warp
if heated. The glass/metal syringes have their own set
of problems.
Syringe
As noted, you can use a pressure cooker as an autoclave.
However, absent a pressure cooker, you can sterilize
all glass syringes using boiling water. The procedure is
straight forward - clean the syringe thoroughly
(preferably using a detergent designed for the purpose
which is low residue, but dishwashing soap will work).
Be sure to brush out the bore. Rinse the syringe
thoroughly to remove any detergent. Reassemble the
syringe and draw in and eject a dilute detergent
solution several times, then draw in and eject rinse
water. Disassemble the syringe, wrap each component in
cloth (to protect against chipping), place in a pan
filled with water. Bring the water to a boil, maintain
for ten minutes, allow to cool, pour off the water (optional),
remove syringes, and place in covered container. (Best to use
distilled water for this last step to avoid spotting).
If no soap or detergent is available, thorough cleaning with
water will work provided it is combined with thorough mechanical
cleaning using a soft cloth wrapped around a stick of
appropriate diameter.
The ten minutes allows enough time for heat to kill
any bacteria and the mechanical movement of the water
cleans off really small stuff you may have missed.
Needles
Needles pose a special problem for sterilization due to
their very small bores. It is very easy for small amounts
of contaminants to remain hidden in the bore of a hypodermic
needle. For this reason, needles should be cleaned as
quickly as possible after use. If immediate cleaning is
impossible, the needles should be placed in a detergent
solution or water bath until cleaning can be accomplished.
Using a syringe or other equipment designated for the
purpose, eject water through the needle being cleaned
several times. Do not draw water or detergent solutions
into the syringe through the needle - separate the needle
from the syringe if needed. Follow up the water rinse
with a detergent rinse (20 mL). Follow this with an ejection
of at least 20 mL of rinse water. Run the hypo wire through
the needle several times. Again rinse with detergent solution
and water. Wrap in cloth and immerse in boiling water
for ten minutes. Remove, dry, and store (preferably in alcohol).
The drying should include running a hypo wire through
the bore of the needle to force out any water there; blowing
air through using a syringe may be only partially effective,
especially in humid climates.
(The hypo wire used is preferably a different one than that
used for cleaning)
This method produces clean, sterile syringes and needles (it
assumes that you know how to handle/store sterile stuff after
cleaning - thats a whole other section of the book). This
method is also, you will note, very labor intensive - one
reason people really went for disposables. You can find
a whole bunch of variants on this methods, of course.
(In fact, in many ways, this is probably overkill - but
it has a good track record)
In the pre 60's literature, sterilization of goods was
a big topic. After disposables came in, interest dropped off
in this country. However, the economics of reuseables make
them attractive in countries where the GNP is significantly
less than ours, and the various journals of tropical
medicine still have a lot of info.
See, for instance
P. E. Kofoed, et al, Lifetime of reusable syringes and needles.
A field study.; Trop. Geogr. Med. 1993;45(3):140-141.
Interestingly enough, AIDS has prompted a resurgence of interest
in field expedient sterilization methods (to prevent the spread
of the disease among drug users). Several low tech methods have
been developed. The down side is that they generally require
materials (notably bleach) which may or may not be available
in a TEOTWAWKI situation. The up side is that they are intended
for disposables, which are likely to be what most diabetics
have on hand.
A starting place for these would be
N. Flynn In vitro activity of readily available household
materials against HIV-1: is bleach enough? J. Acquir. Immune
Defic. Syndr. 1994 Jul;7(7):747-753
(Although see the following article - J. Acquir. Immune Defic.
Syndrome 1994 Jul;7(7):754 et seq - for a cautionary note.)
Finally, a study back in the 80's indicated that reuse of
a disposable set by a diabetic might not be a big problem.
See R. H. Hodge, Jr., et al Multiple use of disposable
insulin syringe-needle units. JAMA 1980 Jul 18;244(3):266-267.
--
************************************************** ****************************
Renegade academician. They're a dangerous breed when they go feral,
academics are...a chemist, too.
--(James P. Blaylock in "Lord Kelvin's Machine")
My organization hasn't agreed with any of my opinions so far, and
I doubt they'll start now.
Stanley Roberts
V. Balraj, et al, Sterilization of syringes and needles for
immunization programmes using a pressure cooker.
J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1990 Apr;93(2):119-120.
>
Okay, a fast primer on minimum equipment sterilization
of reuseable injection equipment. This is for all glass
syringe sets and all metal needles or needles with plastic
locks identified as reuseable by the manufacturers -
the disposable needle sets use plastic that can warp
if heated. The glass/metal syringes have their own set
of problems.
Syringe
As noted, you can use a pressure cooker as an autoclave.
However, absent a pressure cooker, you can sterilize
all glass syringes using boiling water. The procedure is
straight forward - clean the syringe thoroughly
(preferably using a detergent designed for the purpose
which is low residue, but dishwashing soap will work).
Be sure to brush out the bore. Rinse the syringe
thoroughly to remove any detergent. Reassemble the
syringe and draw in and eject a dilute detergent
solution several times, then draw in and eject rinse
water. Disassemble the syringe, wrap each component in
cloth (to protect against chipping), place in a pan
filled with water. Bring the water to a boil, maintain
for ten minutes, allow to cool, pour off the water (optional),
remove syringes, and place in covered container. (Best to use
distilled water for this last step to avoid spotting).
If no soap or detergent is available, thorough cleaning with
water will work provided it is combined with thorough mechanical
cleaning using a soft cloth wrapped around a stick of
appropriate diameter.
The ten minutes allows enough time for heat to kill
any bacteria and the mechanical movement of the water
cleans off really small stuff you may have missed.
Needles
Needles pose a special problem for sterilization due to
their very small bores. It is very easy for small amounts
of contaminants to remain hidden in the bore of a hypodermic
needle. For this reason, needles should be cleaned as
quickly as possible after use. If immediate cleaning is
impossible, the needles should be placed in a detergent
solution or water bath until cleaning can be accomplished.
Using a syringe or other equipment designated for the
purpose, eject water through the needle being cleaned
several times. Do not draw water or detergent solutions
into the syringe through the needle - separate the needle
from the syringe if needed. Follow up the water rinse
with a detergent rinse (20 mL). Follow this with an ejection
of at least 20 mL of rinse water. Run the hypo wire through
the needle several times. Again rinse with detergent solution
and water. Wrap in cloth and immerse in boiling water
for ten minutes. Remove, dry, and store (preferably in alcohol).
The drying should include running a hypo wire through
the bore of the needle to force out any water there; blowing
air through using a syringe may be only partially effective,
especially in humid climates.
(The hypo wire used is preferably a different one than that
used for cleaning)
This method produces clean, sterile syringes and needles (it
assumes that you know how to handle/store sterile stuff after
cleaning - thats a whole other section of the book). This
method is also, you will note, very labor intensive - one
reason people really went for disposables. You can find
a whole bunch of variants on this methods, of course.
(In fact, in many ways, this is probably overkill - but
it has a good track record)
In the pre 60's literature, sterilization of goods was
a big topic. After disposables came in, interest dropped off
in this country. However, the economics of reuseables make
them attractive in countries where the GNP is significantly
less than ours, and the various journals of tropical
medicine still have a lot of info.
See, for instance
P. E. Kofoed, et al, Lifetime of reusable syringes and needles.
A field study.; Trop. Geogr. Med. 1993;45(3):140-141.
Interestingly enough, AIDS has prompted a resurgence of interest
in field expedient sterilization methods (to prevent the spread
of the disease among drug users). Several low tech methods have
been developed. The down side is that they generally require
materials (notably bleach) which may or may not be available
in a TEOTWAWKI situation. The up side is that they are intended
for disposables, which are likely to be what most diabetics
have on hand.
A starting place for these would be
N. Flynn In vitro activity of readily available household
materials against HIV-1: is bleach enough? J. Acquir. Immune
Defic. Syndr. 1994 Jul;7(7):747-753
(Although see the following article - J. Acquir. Immune Defic.
Syndrome 1994 Jul;7(7):754 et seq - for a cautionary note.)
Finally, a study back in the 80's indicated that reuse of
a disposable set by a diabetic might not be a big problem.
See R. H. Hodge, Jr., et al Multiple use of disposable
insulin syringe-needle units. JAMA 1980 Jul 18;244(3):266-267.
--
************************************************** ****************************
Renegade academician. They're a dangerous breed when they go feral,
academics are...a chemist, too.
--(James P. Blaylock in "Lord Kelvin's Machine")
My organization hasn't agreed with any of my opinions so far, and
I doubt they'll start now.
Stanley Roberts