There are a number of ways to monitor the sterilisation process to ensure that it is successful. The two principal methods used are biological and parametric monitoring. Richard Bancroft, science & technical director at STERIS Corporation explores the pros and cons of each method.
Sterilisation is a science that is not clear until the fundamental principles of the combination of physics, microbiology and probability are understood. Sterility is dependent upon a given set of sterilisation process conditions that are usually steady state (so that they can be more readily controlled); has limitations, based on the number and resistance of the microorganisms to be destroyed; and is assessed based on probability, hence cannot be easily measured in practical terms, and is often derived from theoretical considerations.
We accept that the literal meaning of sterile, free from all viable microorganisms, is somewhat utopian, and the practical reality of the state of sterile is finite, hence must be expressed as a probability. Depending upon the type and nature of the sterilisation process, there are different ways of controlling and verifying the process to assure a sterile load is produced. These different methods of sterilisation process monitoring are based on science, historical practice, or a combination of both.
Industrial processes vs hospital processes
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