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If you work in the field of medicine, but still don’t know what an autoclave is, what it does and why you need it, then read on: what is an autoclave, how an autoclave sterilizes medical instruments, features of use autoclave.
What is an autoclave. Autoclave is a device for disinfection/sterilization of equipment, used in the field of medicine and cosmetology. On any surface there are microorganisms - microbes, bacteria, viruses - some of which are extremely dangerous for the human body. In areas where during work they penetrate directly into the body of the client, disinfection is an important part of the work. Infection will have a bad effect on business (customers will lose trust), and most importantly, on human health. To do this, cosmetologists and doctors sterilize their instruments before each visitor.
There are many devices for sterilizing instruments, some are additionally used to disinfect surfaces in a room, one of them is an autoclave. Autoclaving (the process of autoclave operation) takes place at temperatures above 100 degrees, since most microorganisms cannot withstand it.
How an autoclave sterilizes medical instruments. The device works according to the steam method of sterilization - it uses steam and high temperature. The whole process goes like this:
Tools are placed inside the autoclave, water is poured into a special tank, where it heats up and turns into steam, after which it is fed to the tools. High temperature together with steam eliminate 99% of all microorganisms. Autoclaves are popular because of their high efficiency, ease of operation and low cost.
Autoclave Advantages:
- Fast work (short sterilization cycles)
- You can work with products that do not withstand high temperatures (plastic, fabric)
- Can be produced in single and double packaging
Components of the autoclave: sterilization chamber (the place where the instruments are placed), valve for air outlet, safety valve (activated if too high steam pressure), pressure gauge to measure steam pressure, thermometer to measure steam temperature, steam boiler (water tank) and electric heater.
The walls of the sterilization chamber are thick and sealed, so everything that happens inside the autoclave does not affect the external environment. Water is boiled in its container, after which steam is supplied through special pipes through valves to the main chamber. A manometer and a thermometer are also installed there to measure the temperature and pressure of the steam.
Sterilization in an autoclave must be carried out strictly following the instructions. The device manually sets the pressure and temperature. Operating modes differ in overpressure and exposure time.
Features of the autoclave. The main operating modes of the autoclave:
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- 1 atmosphere and 121 degrees Celsius
- 1.5 atmospheres and 125 degrees Celsius
- 2 atmospheres and 134 degrees Celsius
Under such conditions, microbes and viruses die in a few minutes. Spores can withstand up to half an hour, after which they also die. Parameters are selected manually depending on the processed material. For example, to get rid of nutrient media, it is necessary to act on the material for 25 minutes with steam. The pressure in this case should be 4 atmospheres, and the temperature should be 121 degrees Celsius. Surgical materials and instruments are disinfected for 30 minutes at a pressure of 1 atmosphere and a temperature of 121 degrees.
autoclave classes. Following the European standard EN 13060:2004, there are three main classes: N, S and B.
Class N - the most popular devices used by pediatricians, not suitable for sterilizing surgical instruments. In them there is no preliminary evacuation and vacuum drying. Work only with smooth tools and fabrics without packaging.
Class S - devices of this class are suitable for decontamination of both smooth instruments / materials and porous ones. However, they can be in the package, and without it.
Class B - autoclaves of this class are used in surgery and dentistry. They have evacuation and vacuum drying. They can work with any medical/cosmetic instruments and tissues. Sterilize materials in any packaging or without them. Most often required for decontamination of handpieces and rigid endoscopes.
