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Flash autoclave settings may influence eradication but not presence of well‐established biofilms on orthopaedic implant material
Author(s) -
Williams Dustin L.,
Taylor Nicholas B.,
Epperson Richard T.,
Rothberg David L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research®
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.23764
Subject(s) - autoclave , sterilization (economics) , biofilm , flash (photography) , titanium , implant , dentistry , medicine , biomedical engineering , materials science , surgery , metallurgy , biology , bacteria , art , visual arts , economics , monetary economics , foreign exchange market , genetics , foreign exchange
Flash autoclaving is one of the most frequently utilized methods of sterilizing devices, implants or other materials. For a number of decades, it has been common practice for surgeons to remove implantable devices, flash autoclave and then reimplant them in a patient. Data have not yet indicated the potential for biofilms to survive or remain on the surface of orthopaedic‐relevant materials following flash autoclave. In this study, monomicrobial and polymicrobial biofilms were grown on the surface of clinically relevant titanium materials and exposed to flash autoclave settings that included varying times and temperatures. Data indicated that when the sterilization and control temperatures of an autoclave were the same, biofilms were able to survive flash autoclaving that was performed for a short duration. Higher temperature and increased duration rendered biofilms non‐viable, but none of the autoclave settings had the ability to remove or disperse the presence of biofilms from the titanium surfaces. These findings may be beneficial for facilities, clinics, or hospitals to consider if biofilms are suspected to be present on materials or devices, in particular implants that have had associated infection and are considered for re‐implantation. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1543–1550, 2018.