High Pressure Hot Steam Sterilization (autoclave) of Medical and Dental Equipment
Efficient sterilization can be obtained by using hot steam at a higher temperature in the form of pressured saturation hot vapor. Hot steam method is a way of sterilizing instrument physically that is oldest and most acceptable.
In the usual application, the autoclave is used for sterilization purposes; the temperature of 1210C is applied for 15-20 minutes. This condition will provide a vapor pressure of 15 pounds. The direct exposure to the saturation vapor at 121 ° C for 10 minutes normally can destroy all forms of microbial life.
In the autoclave with a high vacuum pressure, the air is first evacuated and then inserted, while the autoclave with direct air downward shift is replaced by steam. The unwrapped instruments can be sterilized in 3 minutes at 134 ° C or within 15 minutes at a temperature of 121 ° C. wrapped instruments can be added as long as five minutes and the instruments can be wrapped in muslin, paper, nylon, aluminum foil or plastic that can distribute (permeable) the steam. The wrapped instruments are in steril condition during storage and transporting, it can be used a large vacuum autoclave.
These tools are usually only available in hospitals, but for instruments that are not wrapped usually are sufficient when using simple autoclave. This equipment is usually sold in small size and suitable for dental and medical practices.
Sterilization by using hot steam or autoclave has several advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are short lap time, good penetration and a wide range of scope of material that can be processed without damage. The disadvantages of using autoclave are the corrosion of unprotected carbon steel instruments, dulling the unprotected tip cut, wet packaging at the end of the round and it can damage the heat sensitive materials.
