Question

1. What is an autoclave and how it works?
2. Why is autoclave effective than boiling?
3. Why you must keep liquid containers open before autoclaving?
4. Why used sterility indicators?
5. Why do we need to use microbial control methods in clinical settings?
6. Give examples of microbial control precautions used in a clinical setting and why they are used?

Answer 1

An autoclave is equipment for sterilization. It works on the principle of moist heat techniques. The steam is generated by heating the water in the closed chamber.

The ideal condition for working of auto calve is 121 ⁰ C at 15 PSIG pressure for 15-30 minutes.

It is better than boiling as in the closed chamber the generated steam has the higher penetration power for the destruction of microbes and thus proved to be more efficient than boiling as steam contains the latent heat of energy.

Liquid containers should be kept open before autoclaving, otherwise, in a closed condition, there are chances of broken as the internal pressure may get rise to an extreme due to high internal pressure.

Sterility indicators are used to identify the completion and efficient validation of the autoclave. for example, the biological indicator used for the validation of the autoclave is a bacterial strain of bacillus stereothermophyllus.

In the clinical setting, the microbial control is highly desired as the aseptic conditions are required during the whole course of the clinical setting for the unbiased results in a contamination-free environment along with the safety of the products.

examples of microbial control precautions in clinical setting involve the sterility testing by direct inoculation as well as membrane filtration techniques for the sterile dosage form evaluation and clinical assessment, by membrane filtration techniques for removal of microbes and to achieve complete sterilization. Also, radiation sterilization to make the product pyrogen-free and contamination-free to be proved safe and effective during the whole course of clinical assessment in the animal and human subjects.