Critical Considerations for Selecting a Sterilizer
Choosing the right sterilizer for a surgical practice involves several critical considerations. Among them, the following factors can be highlighted: the size of the practice and the number of patients per day; the optimum compromise between the size of the sterilizer and the cycle time; the advantage of types of sterilization methods. For example, an autoclave sterilizer uses high-pressure steam to kill bacteria and viruses. Other chemical sterilizers utilize gas or chemicals for this purpose as well. Every option has its advantages and disadvantages; therefore, it is essential to understand which type fits your practice better. The cost of the sterilizer is also a significant aspect to consider. Buying a high-quality sterilizer is a good investment for the future, but over-investing in functions that might not be necessary for your work requirements is wasteful. Infection control in surgery has been enhanced by such innovative technologies. For example, the hydrogen peroxide sterilization procedure uses vaporized hydrogen-peroxide to wipe out the microorganisms on the instrument fast.
This method is much quicker than autoclaves and emits no toxic chemical substances, but it is costly for some units to maintain. Plasma sterilization, which uses low-temperature plasma to kill bacteria on instruments, is another innovation that has been proven to be effective. In comparison to heat, this method is preferred for heat-sensitive products because it is extremely lethal to most organisms.
