Estratégia para validação de processos de esterilização por vapor saturado em autoclaves nas indústrias farmacêuticas

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to create a methodology for validation and revalidation processes of moist heat sterilization in horizontal autoclaves, emphasizing the critical points of the process and focusing efforts where they are actually required. Temperature distribution studies, heat penetration studies and microbiological challenge have been carried out through in the validation of the autoclave STERIS FINNAQUA 6912. Aiming the evaluation of the impact of changes and the relationship between factors and their interactions for the sterilization process, the 23 factorial design of the factors load density (number of items), product packaging and location in the chamber internal was used. Temperature distribution studies confirmed the homogeneous heat distribution inside the inner chamber during the exposure time at 121°C. Temperatures ranged between 120.35°C and 120.92°C with maximum standard deviation of 0.12°C. Heat penetration studies confirmed thermal exposures equivalent to 121°C for 24 minutes on all items of load (F0 > 24 minutes). In all studies for dry loads, the process capability indexes Cpk were greater than 1.33. Microbiological challenge tests assured a Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) greater than 12 logarithmic reductions in relation to Geobacillus stearothermophilus bioindicators. The presence of surviving spores in 132 bioindicators was not detected Based on the Design of Experiments (DOE) with the significance level of 95%, the changes in factors position, packaging and quantity of the load were not significant to the process of sterilization in autoclave with vacuum air removal. As for the significance level of 90%, the interaction between position x packing was statistically significant in the sterilization process with P value of 0.080