Vital technology: 5 reasons your practice needs an autoclave

Sterilisation is any process that effectively destroys transmissible species, including viruses, bacteria and spores. Sterilisation comes in a range of processes, one of which is the revered autoclave method.

If you’ve been looking for the best autoclave Australia has to offer, then you might be interested in learning how exactly it will benefit your practice.

Let’s take a look below:

What is an autoclave?

An autoclave, otherwise known as a “steam steriliser”, is typically used in medical settings. They are valuable devices that destroy dangerous fungus, microbes, pathogens and spores on objects that could carry these particles. They are placed in a vacuum vessel and sterilised with a high-pressure steam.

The objects are cleaned and sterilised at a particular temperature before being kept there for a specific time period. The steam’s vapour passes heat through the to the objects, destroying germs and bacteria. Autoclave sterilisation is the most effective laboratory instrument sterilisation method, effectively eliminating hazardous microorganisms.

The benefits of using an autoclave

As new sterilisation technologies are on the market, it’s imperative to select the most efficient method available. Autoclave sterilisation is the most efficient sterilisation method as well as coming with a range of benefits, including:

• Eliminates microorganisms

Steam’s humidity is one of the most effective thermal energy transfer methods. With its ability to infiltrate bacterial cells utilising steam, autoclave sterilisation has been found to be the most effective to destroy a range of dangerous microorganisms.

Because of increased steam production and pressure inside the machine, the temperature inside the vessel can reach above 100°C, enabling the destruction of a variety of hazardous microbes and bacteria.

• It’s the safest sterilisation method

In contrast to other sterilisation processes, autoclave sterilisation is nontoxic. Steam is a kind of vapour that forms upon boiling water, making it water in a different matter state. This being said, operators should have a full understanding of how to use an autoclave and avoid hot steam burning them.

As the steam comes from boiling water it requires no extra chemicals. This means you can eliminate harmful bacteria without the need to use potentially hazardous cleaning products.

• It’s a quick method

Steam is quicker at killing bacteria and other microbes, as it can transfer heat over a wider range. For example, dry heat sterilisation typically needs around two hours at a consistent temperature to destroy bacteria.

Conversely, autoclave steam destroys most bacteria within five minutes at a smaller temperature because of the microbial protein’s denaturation. Therefore, autoclave sterilisation is a far quicker method for sterilising medical instruments.

• It is cost-efficient

Steam is easy to utilise as it only requires heat and water. Given that medical centres and laboratories require water access, obtaining water for the autoclave should be no problem.

Steam is also cost-efficient, and this is even more so as autoclaves don’t require other chemicals. This means operating the autoclave is a highly cost-efficient procedure.

• It can remove spores more easily

Your practice may have relied on chemicals to kill spores in the past, but did you know that chemicals aren’t as efficient in eliminating these cells? Conversely, autoclaves are highly effective in removing spores, eliminating the need to use any chemicals to do the job.

As you can see, autoclave sterilisation is easily the most efficient method for killing a wide range of bacteria and harmful microorganisms. This is why it is viewed as the most advanced and reliable technology available on the market and has medical professional trust across the world.