Reduced medical wet packs, post steam sterilization

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a surfactant treatment for a polyolefinic nonwoven fabric used to wrap items to be sterilized. The surfactant treatment consists essentially of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The surfactant treated sterile wrap has a BFE after electret treatment and after sterilization of at least 97 percent. This treatment should produce fewer wet packs than the same fabric after electret treatment and after sterilization but without such surfactant treatment.

1 . A surfactant treatment including a surfactant, said surfactant consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, wherein a polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap treated with said surfactant treatment exhibits a bacterial filtration efficiency after electret treatment and after steam sterilization of at least 97 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. 
     
     
         2 . The surfactant treatment of  claim 1 , wherein applying said surfactant treatment to said polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap results in the production of fewer wet packs after steam sterilization when the packs are wrapped with said surfactant treated polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap as compared to when the packs are wrapped with a polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap without said surfactant treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The surfactant treatment of  claim 1 , wherein said surfactant treatment is applied to said polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap in an amount ranging from greater than 0 weight percent to 1.5 weight percent based on the dry weight of said polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap. 
     
     
         4 . A sterilization wrap comprising a nonwoven fabric and a dried residue of an aqueously applied surfactant treatment, wherein said surfactant treatment includes a surfactant, wherein said surfactant is essentially free of silicon, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur, wherein said sterilization wrap has a bacterial filtration efficiency after electret treatment and after steam sterilization of at least 97 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. 
     
     
         5 . The sterilization wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said sterilization wrap produces fewer wet packs after steam sterilization than a sterilization wrap without said surfactant treatment. 
     
     
         6 . The sterilization wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said surfactant treatment is applied to said nonwoven fabric in an amount ranging from greater than 0 weight percent to 1.5 weight percent based on the dry weight of said nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reducing the occurrence of wet packs post sterilization, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a nonwoven fabric,   b. applying a surfactant treatment including a surfactant, wherein said surfactant consists essentially of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, to said nonwoven fabric,   c. drying said nonwoven fabric,   d. electret treating said nonwoven fabric,   e. wrapping items to be sterilized in said nonwoven fabric, and,   f. steam sterilizing the wrapped items.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant and electret treated nonwoven fabric has a bacterial filtration efficiency after electret treatment and after steam sterilization of at least 97 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant and electret treated nonwoven fabric produces fewer wet packs after steam sterilization than a nonwoven fabric without said surfactant treatment. 
     
     
         10 . The surfactant treatment of  claim 1 , wherein said surfactant is essentially free of silicon, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur. 
     
     
         11 . The surfactant treatment of  claim 1 , wherein said polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap treated with said surfactant treatment exhibits a bacterial filtration efficiency after electret treatment and after steam sterilization ranging from 97 percent to 99.7 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. 
     
     
         12 . The surfactant treatment of  claim 1 , wherein said surfactant treatment is applied to said polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap in an amount ranging from 0.34 weight percent to 1 weight percent based on the dry weight of said polyolefinic nonwoven fabric sterile wrap. 
     
     
         13 . The sterilization wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said surfactant consists essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. 
     
     
         14 . The sterilization wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said sterilization wrap has a bacterial filtration efficiency after electret treatment and after steam sterilization ranging from 97 percent to 99.7 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. 
     
     
         15 . The sterilization wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said surfactant treatment is applied to said nonwoven fabric in an amount ranging from 0.34 weight percent to 1 weight percent based on the dry weight of said nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The sterilization wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said sterilization wrap comprises a polyolefinic nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant is essentially free of silicon, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant and electret treated, nonwoven fabric has a bacterial filtration efficiency after electret treatment and after steam sterilization ranging from 97 percent to 99.7 percent as determined according to ASTM F2101. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant treatment is applied to said nonwoven fabric in an amount ranging from greater than 0 weight percent to 1.5 weight percent based on the dry weight of said nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant treatment is applied to said nonwoven fabric in an amount ranging from 0.34 weight percent to 1 weight percent based on the dry weight of said nonwoven fabric.