Biomaterial Database

Failure of ethylene oxide to sterilize extracted human teeth. 1995

R R White, and G L Hays

Department of Basic Sciences, University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center, USA.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine if ethylene oxide could sterilize extracted human teeth to be used in research. METHODS An occlusal preparation was cut in freshly extracted molars and a small hole was drilled into the pulp chamber. A suspension of Bacillus subtilis (globigii) endospores, the standard biological monitor used for ethylene oxide sterilization, was injected into the pulp cavity, and the pulp cavity access was filled with composite material and sealed with a light-cured sealant. The teeth were exposed to either a 30 degrees C or 63 degrees C ethylene oxide sterilization process. Following exposure, the teeth were aseptically split and cultured to reveal viable spores. RESULTS Sixty-four percent of the teeth exposed to "cold" ethylene oxide treatment and 80% of the teeth exposed to the "warm" treatment still contained viable spores. CONCLUSIONS Ethylene oxide cannot be relied on to sterilize extracted human teeth. Therefore, before they are used in research, other methods should be used to ensure killing of bloodborne pathogens that may be present within the teeth.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008826	Microbial Sensitivity Tests	Any tests that demonstrate the relative efficacy of different chemotherapeutic agents against specific microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, fungi, viruses).	Bacterial Sensitivity Tests,Drug Sensitivity Assay, Microbial,Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,Antibacterial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Antibiogram,Antimicrobial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Bacterial Sensitivity Test,Breakpoint Determination, Antibacterial Susceptibility,Breakpoint Determination, Antimicrobial Susceptibility,Fungal Drug Sensitivity Tests,Fungus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Sensitivity Test, Bacterial,Sensitivity Tests, Bacterial,Test, Bacterial Sensitivity,Tests, Bacterial Sensitivity,Viral Drug Sensitivity Tests,Virus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Antibiograms,Concentration, Minimum Inhibitory,Concentrations, Minimum Inhibitory,Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum,Inhibitory Concentrations, Minimum,Microbial Sensitivity Test,Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations,Sensitivity Test, Microbial,Sensitivity Tests, Microbial,Test, Microbial Sensitivity,Tests, Microbial Sensitivity
D004202	Disinfectants	Substances used on inanimate objects that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. Disinfectants are classed as complete, destroying SPORES as well as vegetative forms of microorganisms, or incomplete, destroying only vegetative forms of the organisms. They are distinguished from ANTISEPTICS, which are local anti-infective agents used on humans and other animals. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed)	Biocide,Disinfectant,Biocides
D005027	Ethylene Oxide	A colorless and flammable gas at room temperature and pressure. Ethylene oxide is a bactericidal, fungicidal, and sporicidal disinfectant. It is effective against most micro-organisms, including viruses. It is used as a fumigant for foodstuffs and textiles and as an agent for the gaseous sterilization of heat-labile pharmaceutical and surgical materials. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p794)	Oxirane,Oxide, Ethylene
D005069	Evaluation Studies as Topic	Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies.	Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001412	Bacillus subtilis	A species of gram-positive bacteria that is a common soil and water saprophyte.	Natto Bacteria,Bacillus subtilis (natto),Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto,Bacillus subtilis var. natto
D013171	Spores, Bacterial	Heat and stain resistant, metabolically inactive bodies formed within the vegetative cells of bacteria of the genera Bacillus and Clostridium.	Bacterial Spores,Bacterial Spore,Spore, Bacterial
D013242	Sterilization	The destroying of all forms of life, especially microorganisms, by heat, chemical, or other means.
D014070	Tooth	One of a set of bone-like structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing.	Teeth
D017848	Blood-Borne Pathogens	Infectious organisms, including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that are present in the BLOOD.	Blood-Borne Pathogen,Bloodborne Pathogen,Pathogens, Blood-Borne,Bloodborne Pathogens