ABSTRACT
Moist-heat sterilization in an autoclave is certainly the most widely utilized means of sterilization within the healthcare industry. It may also be the oldest method in use with the first practical sterilizer dating to the late 19th century. The vast industry experience with steam sterilization has resulted in the development of a variety of steam processes adapted for specific applications. The General Method estimates the lethality over the process duration by calculating the kill rate for microorganisms as the temperature progresses through the sterilization cycle. The effects of the sterilization process must be considered on more than just the microorganisms present on or in the materials. Sterilization processes by their very nature incorporate conditions that have a deleterious impact on the materials being sterilized. The extreme temperature and moisture conditions that are microbiologically lethal can readily alter the chemical and physical properties of many materials.
