Background and Identification

Sterilization is any process that eliminates, kills, or removes all forms of life, specifically microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. and biological agents from a surface, object or fluid. It can be done in various ways including heat, chemicals, irradiation, high pressure, and filtration. Medical and surgical devices are sterilized to avoid transmission of pathogens.

Although a lot of the equipment used in a medical setting is heat stable, since the 1950’s there has been an increase in devices used that require lower temperature sterilization. So heat is still used for sterilization but increasingly other methods such as hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, peracetic acid immersion, and ozone are used as well.

Additional Information