medical instrument sterilization

HCA North Florida Regional removed a vice president and fired others nearly six weeks after nonemergency surgeries abruptly halted with concerns about sterilized operating room equipment.

The EPA is tightening regulation of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic gas used to sterilize medical devices. The agency is trying to balance the interests of the health care industry supply chain with those of communities where the gas creates airborne health risks.

Concerns about sterilizing equipment has led to suspending nonemergency surgeries for one week longer as the hospital grapples with issues that could lead to serious infections, surgeons say.

The HCA Florida facility in Gainesville is one of the state’s largest hospitals. The suspension is for at least four days. The hospital says the move was proactive and described it only as an unspecified “operational matter.”

The EPA says its proposal will reduce ethylene oxide emissions by roughly 80% by targeting 86 medical sterilization facilities across the United States.