Further Delays in Resuming Sterilization Operations Place Patients at Risk

Time to Act. Cobb County has the authority to allow the Sterigenics facility in Atlanta to re-open. Sterigenics operated safely for decades before new review required in October.
Atlanta Capacity Needed to Meet Demand. Sterigenics and other sterilization industry facilities are already safely operating at near full capacity. The only way for Sterigenics to sterilize more lifesaving equipment is to reopen the Atlanta facility.
FDA Validates Need for Sterigenics Atlanta Facility. The FDA sent a letter to state officials seeking assistance in reopening the facility. Read the full text of the letter.
Marietta Daily Journal: FDA asks Georgia to allow Sterigenics to sterilize medical equipment amid coronavirus outbreak. Read the article.

As one example, over 1 million critical protective gowns previously sterilized at the Sterigenics Atlanta facility are awaiting sterilization before they can be used –Sterigenics is standing by to meet those needs

Protecting Patients. Sterigenics sterilizes swabs for one of only two FDA-approved COVID-19 test kits.
Protecting Healthcare Professionals. Sterigenics sterilizes approximately 25% of the world’s supply of personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals (gowns, masks, gloves).
Rapid Sterilization Solutions. Sterigenics developed a safe method for rapid mask sterilization in China at the request of the Chinese Government. That solution can be replicated in Atlanta.
Enabling Patient Care. Sterigenics sterilizes millions of other critical products per day that support COVID-19 treatment including: respirator breathing tubes, IV tubing sets, saline, sterile water, drapes, syringes, and other consumables.

Essential Sterilization Capacity. Prior to suspension of operations, the Atlanta facility sterilized thousands of gowns and hundreds of thousands of IV tubing sets per day, as well as other essential products.
Positioned to Address Immediate Sterilization Needs. The Atlanta facility could immediately focus on addressing the sterilization backlog for items needed to combat the outbreak.
International Supply at Risk. Several countries have begun to restrict export of sterilized products to the U.S. and other countries. The Atlanta facility is positioned to address resulting increase in sterilization demand in the U.S.

Enhanced Controls are Installed. New controls further reduce ethylene oxide (EO) emissions beyond already safe levels protecting employees and the community.
Unparalleled Controls. The Atlanta facility met or outperformed US EPA and Georgia EPD regulations prior to the enhancements. Voluntary upgrades to the emission control system render it one of the most advanced sterilization facilities in the world in terms of capture and control of EO.