Why Are Steam and Heat and Pressure Effective at Sterilizing

As you know, autoclaves use heat, water, steam, and pressure to sterilize instruments and materials. But have you ever wondered how it works? Why does heat, and, specifically, moist heat do such a good job at sterilizing? 

Dry Heat 

Dry heat, by itself, causes the coagulation of proteins. As long as the environment reaches a needed temperature then dry heat will be effective. 

Moist Heat 

Moist heat denatures molecules. The heat causes proteins and enzymes to lose their shape and their ability to function. It effectively kills fungi, bacteria, spores, and viruses. 

Pressure 

The advantage of the added pressure in sterilizing is that the pressure elevates the temperature to higher desirable levels. 

Steam 

The benefit of using steam in sterilization is that steam is moist heat in a gaseous form, which makes it permeate through and around materials. So, if instruments have peculiar shapes, the steam forces the hot moist air around everything. 

In autoclaves, there are ways to test that the autoclaves are sterilizing as they should with test strips that demonstrate the designated pressures and temperatures were achieved to reach the needed sterilization parameters. Those who operate autoclaves have to test at regular intervals between sterilization batches to be absolutely sure their autoclave is performing as it should. 

It is always important to follow the instructions of the autoclave’s manufacturer. Only by reaching specific temperatures with specific pressures using moist heat and steam, can you be sure that everything will be sterilized. In this way, your autoclave will be perfectly reliable all of the time.

If you need help choosing, repairing, maintaining, installing, operating, or validating an autoclave, this is our business and area of expertise for many years. Give us a call, in western Canada at (888) 818-4847. We can help with every aspect of autoclaves including choosing the right one for you.

Alpha Scientific supplies, installs, and services medical equipment in western Canada. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about medical equipment, please call our toll-free number, (888) 818-4847, or email us at sales@alphascientific.ca.