AUTOCLAVE FOR MIDTERMS Flashcards
a machine that provides a physical method of sterilization by killing bacteria, viruses, and even spores present in the material put inside of the vessel using steam under pressure
Autoclave
sterilizes the materials by heating them up to a
particular temperature for a specific period of time
Autoclave
also known as a steam sterilizer
Autoclave
An autoclave is considered a more effective method of sterilization as it is based on _____________
moist heat sterilization
Simplest form of the autoclave
Pressure Cooker Type or Laboratory Bench Autoclaves
main component of a steam autoclave consisting of an inner chamber and an outer jacket
Pressure Chamber
The inner chamber is made up of ______ or _______,which is present inside the out chamber made up of an iron case
stainless steel or gunmetal
the case where the materials to be sterilized are put
the inner chamber (part of pressure chamber)
The autoclaves used in healthcare laboratories have ________ that is filled with steam to reduce the time taken to reach the sterilization temperatur
an outer jacket
The purpose of the ____ is to seal off the outside atmosphere and create a sterilized condition on ht inside of the autoclave
Lid/Door
True or False
The lid is made airtight via the screw clamps and asbestos washer
True
- present on the lid of the autoclave to indicate the pressure created in the autoclave during sterilization
- essential as it assures the safety of the autoclave and the working condition of the operation
Pressure Gauge
- present on the lid of the autoclave is the same as that of the pressure cooker
- controls the pressure inside the chamber by releasing a certain amounting vapor by lifting itself
pressure releasing unit/whistle
- Present in the lid of the autoclave
- crucial in cases where the autoclave fails to perform its action or the pressure inside increases uncontrollably
- has a thin layer of rubber that bursts itself to release the pressure and to avoid the danger of explosion
Safety Valve
- present underneath the chamber that uses an electric heating system to heat the water and generate steam in the inner and outer chamber
Electrical Steam Generator or Boiler
True or False about Electrical Steam Generator
- The level of water present in the inner chamber is vital as if the water is not sufficient; there are chances of the burning of the heating system.
- Similarly, if the water is more than necessary, it might interfere with the trays and other components present inside the chamber.
True
- pulls out the air from the inside of the chamber to create a vacuum inside the chamber
- present in some types if autoclaves
Vacuum Generator
This part if the autoclave is important because some air pockets inside the chamber might support the growth of different microorganisms
Vacuum Generator
- many autoclaves are provided with a system to cool the effluent before it enters the draining pipes
- this system prevents any damage to the drainage pipe die to the boiling water being sent out of the autoclave
Wastewater cooler
These are the principles of an autoclave
Steam
Pressure
Temperature
Time
- The medium through which heat is transferred in an autoclave
- It is very effective heat transfer medium because it can penetrate materials more effectively than dry heat
Steam
_________ is a high heat capacity and can transfer heat efficiently, ensuring that the temperature within the chamber reaches all areas of the items.
- This helps in uniform sterilization and prevents pockets of cool air that might harbor microorganisms.
Steam
________ is produced by boiling water in the autoclave chamber.
- is then introduced into the chamber, where it fills the space and comes into contact with all surfaces of the items being sterilized.
Steam
The primary purpose of ______ in an autoclave is to raise the boiling point of water
pressure
At standard atmospheric pressure, water boils at _______.
However, at higher pressures, water can reach temperatures well above this boiling point without turning into steam.
100°C (212°F)
Most autoclaves operate at around _______ (pounds per square inch) above atmospheric pressure, which allows steam to reach temperatures of approximately ________.
This increased temperature is crucial because it
effectively destroys bacterial spores, viruses, and other microorganisms that standard boiling cannot eliminate.
15 psi
121°C (250°F)
High ________ are essential for the destruction of microorganisms. Most bacteria, viruses, and fungi are killed at _______ that exceed their normal growth conditions.
temperatures
True or False
In an autoclave, temperatures are typically set to 121°C (250°F). At this temperature, the combination of _________ and _________ is capable of breaking down the cell walls of microorganisms and denaturing their proteins.
- This ensures that even the most resilient microbial forms, such as bacterial spores, are effectively sterilized.
steam and pressure
Adequate ________ is necessary to ensure that the high temperature and pressure have penetrated all items being sterilized and have remained long enough to kill microorganisms.
exposure time
The standard exposure time for an autoclave cycle is around ________, although this can vary depending on the load size, type of material, and the specific autoclave model.
- The time starts once the autoclave reaches the desired temperature and pressure, ensuring that all microorganisms are exposed to the sterilizing conditions for a sufficient period.
15-20 minutes
What are the different types of autoclave?
- pressure cooker type
- gravity displacement type
- vertical type
- horizontal type
- large automatic hospital type
- works like a household pressure cooker, using steam pressure to sterilize small items
- best for: simple, small-scale sterilization in basic setups for labs
Pressure Cooker Type
- uses gravity to push air out as steam fills the chamber, then sterilizes the load with high-temperature steam
- best for: non-porous items like glassware and metal instruments
Gravity Displacement Type
- a top-loading autoclave where materials are placed vertically inside the chanber
- best for: small to medium-sized loads in labs or clinics with limited space
Vertical Type
- a side-loading autoclave with a larger capacity, designed for loading larger batches of materials
- best for: high-volume sterilization in larger labs or hospitals
Horizontal Type
- fully automated, large-capacity autoclave used in hospitals for sterilizing larger amounts of surgical tools, linens, and equipment
- best for: bulk sterilization in hospitals and medical facilities
Large Automatic Hospital Type
are important devices to ensure the sterilization of materials containing water as they cannot be sterilized by dry heat sterilization.
Autoclaves
True or False
Uses of Autoclave
- They are used to decontaminate specific biological waste and sterilize media, instruments, and labware.
True
True or False
Uses of Autoclave
- Regulated medical waste that might contain bacteria, viruses, and other biological materials is recommended to be inactivated by autoclaving before disposal.
True
True or False
Uses of Autoclave
- In medical labs, autoclaves are used to sterilize medical equipment, glassware, surgical equipment, and medical wastes.
True
True or False
Uses of Autoclave
- Similarly, autoclaves are used for the sterilization of culture media, autoclavable containers, plastic tubes, and pipette tips.
True
is a must in order to protect oneself and prevent injuries before, during, and after laboratory activites
Use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Check inside the autoclave if there are equipment left inside (especially sharps). Check the glassware if it is compromised or not
Pre-Operational Checks
When opening an autoclave one should do it slowly and one’s face should be at a distance to prevent any injury such as burns and scalding due to the steam
Keeping Distance From The Equipment
True of False
In general, an autoclave is run at a temperature of 121° C for at least 45 minutes by using saturated steam under at least 15 psi of pressure.
False; 30 minutes
Procedure for running an autoclave
1.) Before beginning to use the autoclave, it should be checked for any items left from the previous cycle.
2.) A sufficient amount of water is then put inside the chamber.
3.) Now, the materials to be sterilized are placed inside the chamber.
True
Procedures for running an autoclave:
4.) The lid is then closed, and the screws are tightened to ensure an airtight condition, and the electric heater is switched on.
5.) The safety valves are adjusted to maintain the required pressure in the chamber.
6.) Once the water inside the chamber boils, the air water mixture is allowed to escape through the discharge tube to let all the air inside to be displaced. The complete displacement can be ensured once the water bubbles cease to come out from the pipe.
True
Procedure for running an autoclave
7.) The drainage pipe is then closed, and the steam inside is allowed to reach the desired levels (15 lbs in most cases).
8.) Once the pressure is reached, the whistle blows to remove excess pressure from the chamber.
9.) After the whistle, the autoclave is run for a holding period, which is 15 minutes in most cases.
True
Procedure for running an autoclave
10.) Now, the electric heater is switched off, and the autoclave is allowed to cool until the pressure gauge indicates the pressure inside has lowered down to that of the atmospheric pressure.
11.) The discharge pipe is then opened to allow the entry of air from the outside into the autoclave.
12.) Finally, the lid is opened, and the sterilized materials are taken out of the chamber.
True
