Studies on the comparative effectiveness of X-rays, gamma rays and electron beams to inactivate microorganisms at different dose rates in industrial sterilization of medical devices

The radiation resistance of Bacillus pumilus spores to gamma rays, X-rays, and electron beam (e-beam) was investigated using industrial irradiators operating at various dose rates. The dose rates were as follows: gamma 1 and 10 kGy/h; X-ray 10 and 200 kGy/h; e-beam 2000 kGy/h. The regression analysis showed that survivor curves were log10 linear for all three sources within the investigated absorbed dose range of 1–6 kGy, irrespective of the dose rate applied. All irradiation technologies were equally efficient to inactivate the spores, which is reflected in their comparable D-values (p > 0.05), and dose rate had no impact on the microbicidal efficacy. These results suggest that wherever a specified minimum dose is delivered, the sterilization dose can be transferred between irradiation technologies in industrial sterilization of medical devices without any impact on product sterility. These findings from a novel single study encompassing all available industrial radiation technologies for the purpose of medical devices sterilization, advance our understanding of microbial destruction as related to exposure to important sterilization modalities, which will help inform future applicability of these technologies for emerging industry opportunities. •X-ray, gamma, and e-beam are comparable in terms of their microbicidal efficacy.•Dose rate has no effect on B. pumilus inactivation.•All investigated technologies showed log-linear inactivation kinetics (R2 ≥ 0.95).•Possible transfer of sterilization dose between industrial irradiators.