STERILIZATION

Sterilization can refer to:

the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms
and spores
to free an object or substance from all life of any
kind.

STERILIZATION METHODS

Two types of method

Physical

sterilization
Chemical sterilization

Physical sterilization include

Autoclaving
Filtertion
Dry

heat

Chemical sterilization include

Radiation

sterilization
Gas sterilization
Liquid sterilization

AUTOCLAVING

introduction
Mostly

used technique
Steam sterilization under pressure

We use steam because holds 7 times more heat than water at the
same temperature

Denaturation

and coagulation of cellular enzymes

More efficient than dry heat because heat exchange
by moist heat is more rapid than dry heat
Suitable for aqueous solutions, glass ware and rubber
particles
Not suitable for drugs that are temperature sensitive

TYPES OF AUTOCALVE

1.

Based on air removal auto clave has two types:

Gravity Displacement:

As steam enters the chamber, it fills the upper areas first.

compresses the air to the bottom, forcing it out through a
drain which often contains a temperature-sensing device.
Only when air evacuation is complete does the discharge
stop

2.

vacuum/Gravity Assisted:

a vacuum pump sucks air or air/steam mixtures from the

chamber.

Trapped air should be removed from autoclave as

it is a bad conductor of heat.
Conditions:

Temp

121oC
Pressure 15 psi
Time 15 min

Advantages:
it

quickly kills all forms of microbes

Also kills bacterial endospores

Disadvantages:
expensive
uses

more electricity
unsuitable for oils or powders that are impervious to
heat
Causes corrosion and combustion of lubricants

DRY-HEAT
includes no water, so protein hydrolysis can't take
place.
Most economical method
Time and temp is high but efficiency is almost
same to autoclaving.
The heat is absorbed by the outside surface of the
item, then passes towards the centre of the item,
layer by layer.
kill microbes by oxidation of cellular components
Oxidation of proteins requires high temprature
than hydrolysis of protein(autoclaving

There are two types of dry-heat sterilizers:

1. Thestatic-air typeis
oven-type sterilizer
heating coils in the bottom of the unit cause the hot air
to rise inside the chamber via gravity convection.
much slower in heating,
less uniform in temperature control throughout the
chamber
2. Theforced-air or mechanical convection

equipped with a motor-driven blower that circulates
heated air throughout the chamber at a high velocity,
more rapid transfer of energy from the air to the
instruments.

Conditions:
170oC

(340oF) for 60 minutes,

160oC (320oF) for 120 minutes, and
150oC (300oF) for 150 minutes or longer depending up
the volume.
Advantages:
easy to install
low operating costs
It is nontoxic
noncorrosive for metals

Disadvantages:
Time

consuming method
high temperatures are not suitable for most
materials.
penetration is slow and uneven,

RADIATION STERILIZATION

UV, x-rays and gamma rays

have

profoundly damaging effects on DNA

X-rays and gamma rays :
Leads to the ionization of larger molecules
this in turn leads to the production of secondary electrons
with a range of energies capable of breaking bonds
Create free hydrogen, hydroxyl radicals and some peroxides
which cause intracellular damage
more penetrating
more dangerous
but very effective for large scale cold sterilization of plastic
items
Use for the sterilization of pharmaceutical products such as
penicillin etc.

U.V RADIATIONS

U.V radiations:
limited

penetration
Relatively safe
Excites electrons to high energy states finally destroy
the cellular structure
Can reduce air borne contamination by 90%
Used to control the infection after surgical procedures
especially effective in inactivating viruses.

Advantages:
No

degradation of media during sterilization, thus it

can be used for thermally labile media.
Leaves no chemical residue
Uniform distribution .
Immediate availability of the media after
sterilization.

Disadvantages:
more

costly alternative to heat sterilization

Requires highly specialized equipment.

CHEMICAL STERILIZATION

Gas sterilization:

Mostly done by ethylene oxide

Acts by alkylation
Explosive so it is mixed with inert gas such as carbon
dioxide
Sterilize variety of materials like surgical instruments and
gloves etc.
Sterilize thermo-labile powdered drugs such as penicillins
however some drugs lose potency such as riboflavin

Liquid sterilization
Phenol

and alcohols are mostly used

Disrupt the cells
Precipitate cell protein
Inactivate enzymes and
Cause leakage of amino acids
they have no effect on spores.
Require water so they must be diluted to 60-90% in
water to be effective.

Advantages:
dont

corrode or combust carbon steel.

short amount of time required and
easy to take care of

Disadvantages:
adequate

ventilation is needed for the dispersement

of gas, and
has a slight odor
Can be light sensitive

FILTRATION STERILIZATION
Used for thermo-liable solutions which will
otherwise degraded by heating and chemicals.
great way of quickly sterilizing solutions How do
we manage filtration:

with

a pore diameter that is too small for microbes to

pass through.

For removal of bacteria, filters with an average

pore diameter of 0.2um is normally used.
viruses and phage can pass through these filters
so filtration is not a good option if these are a
concern