DE2637742A1 - Sterility control in steam sterilisation in autoclave - with condenser for pressure equalisation of steam-air mixt. at end of drying - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for control of sterility in steam sterilisation in an autoclave is carried out without using steam in the pre-vacuum phase, with a condenser downstream. At the end of the drying phase, the steam-air mixt. remaining in the autoclave is subjected to pressure equalisation with the condenser, which is separate from the vacuum pump, and the level of the pressure increase in the condenser, or in the autoclave, is a factor for the sterility effect. The drying process is effected by closing the steam valve at the end of steam treatment and extracting the steam from autoclave and material via condenser and pump, down to a partial pressure of 40-50 mbar in the autoclave, which is a usable value with a moisture increase of approx. 1% above moisture of the porous material introduced for sterilisation.

Description

Procedure for controlling the sterility

steam sterilization, addendum to registration P 25 50 506.0 In the patent application P 25 50 5C6.0 a process is placed under protection, which allows to control each sterilization process in its sterility effect with the special feature of performing this test at the end of the pre-vacuum phase before the actual steam treatment begins. This procedure is according to the above Registration can be used in all modern processes that use Steam work in the pre-vacuum phase, regardless of packing instructions, their density, quantity and type of load of the porous items to be sterilized.

A large number of older systems work according to the pure Uoru vacuum process, So without steam in the pre-vacuum phase, with only conventional packing instructions are applicable. Common to all steam sterilization processes is the final phase of the Process after the steam treatment, the drying of the porous items to be sterilized Evaporation of moisture from the goods under vacuum. If you postpone the test Sterility effect in this final phase, there is the disadvantage that under certain circumstances a steam treatment with a non-sterile outcome has taken place, but the Avoid using non-sterile material.

The process flow is then as follows: After completion The pre-vacuum phase is used to treat the porous items to be sterilized, for example saturated water vapor according to the bacteriological regulations.

At the end of the steam treatment, the steam valve closes and the condenser closes and pump, the steam is sucked out of the autoclave and the items to be sterilized. To In practice, this drying process takes place down to a negative pressure of approx. 40-50 mbar in the autoclave. This is a useful value for an increase in humidity of approx. 1% above the moisture content of the porous items to be sterilized, According to the invention, after this value has been reached, the autoclave with the downstream The condenser is separated from the vacuum pump and the test is analogous to the patent application P 25 50 50 600 carried out. The sterility effect is then indicated by visual display or documentation made visible,

Claims (1)

Method according to patent application 25 50 506.0 for control the sterility of steam sterilization in an autoclave without the use of Steam in the pre-vacuum phase with a downstream condenser, characterized in that that at the end of the drying phase the steam-air mixture remaining in the autoclave is brought into pressure equalization with the condenser, which is separated from the vacuum pump and the magnitude of the pressure rise in the condenser or in the autoclave, a factor for is the sterility effect.