Biomaterial Database

Effectiveness of steam autoclaving on the contents of sharps containers. 1990

C J Palenik, and M L Adams, and C H Miller

Department of Oral Microbiology, Indiana University, Indianapolis.

The effectiveness of steam autoclaving on bacterial endospores placed within five types of sharps containers was tested. A variety of container physical orientations within the autoclave were evaluated. Spores were present on commercial spore strips or placed onto capped and uncapped dental needles. All strips and needles present in empty or filled containers could be sterilized within 15 minutes when the containers were placed on their sides and their vents left open. The contents of containers processed in an upward position required between 30-60 minutes of autoclaving before being sterilized. The size and shape of the containers influenced ease of sterilization.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009339	Needles	Sharp instruments used for puncturing or suturing.	Hypodermic Needles,Hypodermic Needle,Needle,Needle, Hypodermic,Needles, Hypodermic
D003762	Dental Instruments	Hand-held tools or implements especially used by dental professionals for the performance of clinical tasks.	Instrument, Dental,Dental Instrument,Instruments, Dental
D013171	Spores, Bacterial	Heat and stain resistant, metabolically inactive bodies formed within the vegetative cells of bacteria of the genera Bacillus and Clostridium.	Bacterial Spores,Bacterial Spore,Spore, Bacterial
D013227	Steam	Water in its gaseous state. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Water Vapor,Steams,Vapor, Water,Vapors, Water,Water Vapors
D013242	Sterilization	The destroying of all forms of life, especially microorganisms, by heat, chemical, or other means.