ABSTRACT
Steam sterilization has been proven to be a reliable way to treat infectious wastes. Steam sterilization requires that the infectious agents in the waste be exposed to a high temperature for a sufficiently long duration. However, it is incorrect to think of steam sterilization as a simple enhancement of dry heat sterilization or that the primary role of steam in steam sterilization is to facilitate heating of the material or waste. Steam serves a dual role in steam sterilization: steam augments the properties of heat that destroy infectious agents and facilitates the transfer of heat to the waste. Two types of devices are commercially available for steam sterilization: autoclaves and retorts. For steam sterilization of wastes, pre-vacuum models offer a significant advantage in efficiency over gravity displacement models. The steam sterilization stage begins on attainment of the designated sterilization temperature at the temperature controller.
