RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This was a study on the expiration date of Ethylene Oxide (EO) gas sterilization and effects of the environmental factors of temperature, humidity and type of cabinet in sterile goods storage area on the expiration date. METHODS: Sterile goods storage areas from 13 departments in one hospital were selected and 455 EO gas sterilization samples were prepared and kept in those areas over the 14 months of the study. Each sample was tested with a microbiological culture in the laboratory every week. If the result was positive, the sample was regarded as contaminated. The researcher visited once a month to check the temperature, humidity and type of cabinet. RESULTS: With the exception of 1 sample which was positive at 56th week. 454 samples were confirmed as negative. The environment of the samples storage area was measured monthly. The annual average temperature was 24.2+/-1.6degrees C, and the mean relative humidity 34.7+/-15.2%. The types of cabinet were 7 open and 6 closed. CONCLUSION: The results of the microbiological culture at 13 months showed that none of the samples were contaminated. Therefore the hospital's existing Expiration Date can be extended from 6 months to 13~14 months.