A medical autoclave is a device that uses steam to sterilize equipment and other objects. This means that all bacteria, viruses, fungi are killed. However prions, such as those associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and some toxins released by certain bacteria such as Cereulide may be autoclaved at room temperature at 134 ° C for three minutes or 121 ° C for 15 minutes. Do not go between. Although a wide range of ancient species, including Geogemma barosii, can survive and even reproduce at temperatures above 121 ° C, none of them have been identified as an infection, posing a risk to human health. Do not create. In fact, their biochemistry is very different from ours, and their rate of action is so slow that microbiologists should not worry about them.
Autoclaves are found in many medical facilities, laboratories and other places that are used to ensure the sterility of an object. Many surgical instruments today (such as forceps, needle holders, and scalpel handles) are usually disposable and can not be reused. Providing solar autoclaves in rural medical centers is one of the most important issues due to the high cost of medical autoclaves.
tip: Paper and other products that may be damaged by steam should be sterilized in another way. In all autoclaves, the equipment must always be separated so that steam can penetrate the load evenly.
Autoclaves are often used to sterilize medical waste before disposal in the standard municipal solid waste stream. Due to the environmental and health concerns caused by the combustion of combustion products, this program has become a popular alternative to incineration, especially from small units that were usually operated in solitary hospitals. Incineration or a similar thermal oxidation process is still generally required for pathological and other highly toxic or infectious medical wastes.
Therefore, many medical grade autoclaves are not limited to regulator-approved cycles. Because they are optimized for continuous use in the hospital, medical autoclave repair and hospital autoclave repair will cost a fortune.