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The Methods of Sterilization

This document discusses various methods of sterilization, including heat, chemical, and filtration methods. It focuses on heat sterilization methods such as moist heat using steam or boiling, and dry heat using flaming, incineration, or hot air ovens. Moist heat is the most common method and uses steam under pressure in an autoclave to achieve temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius for effective sterilization. Dry heat methods expose items directly to heat to kill microbes. Proper time and temperature exposure is required to completely sterilize items and kill even bacterial spores.

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918 views5 pages

The Methods of Sterilization

This document discusses various methods of sterilization, including heat, chemical, and filtration methods. It focuses on heat sterilization methods such as moist heat using steam or boiling, and dry heat using flaming, incineration, or hot air ovens. Moist heat is the most common method and uses steam under pressure in an autoclave to achieve temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius for effective sterilization. Dry heat methods expose items directly to heat to kill microbes. Proper time and temperature exposure is required to completely sterilize items and kill even bacterial spores.

Uploaded by

Elambarithi Jeeva
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE

METHODS

OF

STERILIZATION

1. Heat methods.
2. Chemical sterilization.
Filtration method
Heat method of sterilization: This is the most common method of sterilization. The
heat used kills the microbes in the substance. The temperature of the heat and duration of
heating are the factors that effect the extent of sterilization.
In heat sterilization process, the more the duration of heating the better the sterilization
at a given temperature. As the temperature of heat raises the duration required for
sterilization decreases.
Further the sterilization time increases with decease in temperature and vice-verse. But one
needs to maintain minimum sterilization time or minimum contact time for the heat to be in
contact with microbes &bacteria and thereby kill them.
The heat method of sterilization is again of two types based on the type of heat used.

a) Moist heat methods.


b) Dry heat methods.
Moist heat method of sterilization: Here heat is applied in the form of steam or
just boiling. This includes methods like
Boiling.
Pasteurization.
By use of steam (Autoclave).
Boiling is done for metallic devices like surgical scissors, scalpels, needles etc like
instruments. Here substances are boiled to sterilize them.

Pasteurization is the process of heating the milk at temperature of 6o degrees or 72


degrees 3 to four times. Here alternative heating and cooling kills all the microbes and
molds without boiling the milk.
Using Steam (autoclaving): Here the substances are subjected to sterilization in an
autoclave at temperature of 115 degree for 60 min or 121 degrees for 20 min at 15psi
pressure.
The saturated steam is formed at boiling temperature of water i.e.100 degrees.
This steam condenses on the material and relieves the latent heat repeatedly to convert
back into water.
Further the saturated steam under pressure penetrates all the narrow spaces leaving no
microbes alive there by making the sterilization very effective.
It is the most common method used for drugs as it is powerful enough even to kill bacterial
spores.

Bacterial spores are the forms of bacteria which are inert. They form a rigid cover over
the cell wallduring harsh climate. This cover prevents any damage to cell and drying of cell.
By steam sterilization these forms of bacteria are also killed as steam destroys the cell
wall.
Dry heat methods: Here the substances are subjected to dry heat like
Flaming
Incineration
Hot air oven.
Radiation sterilization
Flaming is the process of exposing metallic device like needle, scalpels, scissors to flame
for few minutes. The flame burns the microbes and other dust on the device directly.
Incineration is done especially for inoculating loops used in microbe cultures. The metallic
end of loop is burnt to red hot on the flame. This kills all the microbes.

Sterilization
Sterilization is the killing or removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores which are
highly resistant. Sterilization is an absolute term, i.e. the article must be sterile meaning the
absence of all microorganisms.
Disinfection is the killing of many, but not all microorganisms. It is a process of reduction of
number of contaminating organisms to a level that cannot cause infection, i.e. pathogens must
be killed. Some organisms and bacterial spores may survive.
Disinfectants are chemicals that are used for disinfection. Disinfectants should be used only on
inanimate objects.
Antiseptics are mild forms of disinfectants that are used externally on living tissues to kill
microorganisms, e.g. on the surface of skin and mucous membranes.

Uses of Sterilization
1. Sterilization for Surgical Procedures: Gloves, aprons, surgical instruments, syringes etc. are
to be sterilized.
2. Sterilization in Microbiological works like preparation of culture media, reagents and
equipments where a sterile condition is to be maintained.

CLASSIFICATION OF METHODS
Sterilization and disinfection are done by :
(A). Physical Agents
1. Heat
2. Radiation
3. Filtration

(B). Chemical Agents


In practice, certain methods are placed under sterilization which in fact do not fulfill the definition
of sterilization such as boiling for 1/2 hr and pasteurization which will not kill spores.

II. Sterilization above 100C: Autoclaving


Autoclaving is one of the most common methods of sterilization. Principle: In this method
sterilization is done by steam under pressure. Steaming at temperature higher than 100C is
used in autoclaving. The temperature of boiling depends on the surrounding atmospheric
pressure. A higher temperature of steaming is obtained by employing a higher pressure. When
the autoclave is closed and made air-tight, and water starts boiling, the inside pressures
increases and now the water boils above 100C. At 15 ib per sq. inch pressure, 121C
temperatures is obtained. This is kept for 15 minutes for sterilization to kill spores. It works like a
pressure cooker.
'Sterilization holding time' is the time for which the entire load in the autoclave requires to be
exposed.
Autoclave is a metallic cylindrical vessel. On the lid, there are : (1) A gauge for indicating the
pressure, (2) A safety valve, which can be set to blow off at any desired pressure, and (3) A
stopcock to release the pressure. It is provided with a perforated diaphragm. Water is placed
below the diaphragm and heated from below by electricity, gas or stove. Working of Autoclave.
(a) Place materials inside, (b) Close the lid. Leave stopcock open, (c) Set the safety valve at the
desired pressure, (d) Heat the autoclave. Air is forced out and eventually steam ensures out
through the tap, (e) close the tap. The inside pressure now rises until it reaches the set level
(i.e. 15 Win), when the safety valve opens and the excess steam escapes, (f) Keep it for 15

minutes (holding time), (g) Stop heating, (h) Cool the autoclave below 100C, (i) Open the
stopcock slowly to allow air to enter the autoclave.
Checking of Autoclave for Efficiency. Methods :
(i) Spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus are used. Spores withstand 121C heat for up to 12
min. Strips containing this bacteria are included with the material being autoclaved. Strips are
cultured between 50C and 60C for surviving spores. If the spores are killed the autoclave is
functioning properly.
(ii)Automatic Monitoring System.

Hot Air oven by: barcode-labels.com


Hot air oven is suitable for dry material like powders, metal devices, glass ware etc.
Here thermostable materials on the racks inside the hot air oven.
Then in the closed oven, hot air is circulated at specific temperature and time.

Radiation method involves exposing the packed materials to radiation for sterilization.
There are two types of radiations available for sterilization i.e. non-ionic and ionic radiation.
Non-ionic radiations are safe to the operator of sterilization and

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