BACKGROUND: Our objective is to study the effects of multiples formaldehyde sterilizations at low temperature in the molecular structure (physical-chemical) as well as on microorganism growth in a polypropylene mesh used for the surgical correction of different hernias of the abdominal wall. METHODS: We used an even mesh (Ethicon) standard 15cm x 15cm, cutted into small 2cm x 1cm pieces after multiples sterilizations. They were named samples A (control), A1 (one sterilization), A3 (three sterilizations) and B (control), B1 (one sterilization) B2 (two sterilizations), B3 (three sterilizations), B4 (four sterilizations), B5 (five sterilizations).The meshes A were analysed by Spectroscopy in Infrared (FTIR) and Microscopy Electronic by Sweepings (MEV), and meshes B were incubated within Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), Agar Saboraud Dextrose and Agar Chocolate (red sheep cells at 5%). RESULTS: The sample comparative analyses A, A1, A3, showed to be identical according to the composition including the same pattern of porosity. Concerning samples B (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) no microorganism was found on the parts under up to five sterilizations. CONCLUSIONS: The polypropylene mesh is not altered as a molecular structure, and it can be sterilized up to five times with no chance for microorganisms on the samples.
Surgical mesh; Sterilization; Hernia
