A comparative study on non-woven fabric and rigid container-based packaging system used in Central Sterile Supply Department: Experience from a cancer research centre in Eastern India

The purpose of packaging materials used in health-care sterilisation processes is to provide a sterile barrier to protect the medical devices from outside contamination and maintaining sterility until it is used. The objective of this study is to inform the Central Sterile Supply Department technicians and infection control practitioners about the two different types of packaging system with their speciality, advantages and disadvantages so that an informed decision could be taken place before the procurement of these systems. The procurement of these systems would depend on the assessment of various factors such as material compatibility with sterilisation processes, safety features, microbial barrier efficacy, environmental impact and cost (initial investment and consumable cost).