Decontamination and disinfection of materials in a subatmospheric environment saturated with steam

摘要

A method of reducing the bioburden, comprising: a. placing a material to be treated into a chamber; b. selecting a desired temperature T1, wherein said desired temperature T1 is based on the material to be treated; c. determining a target subatmospheric pressure P1 where pressure P1 said target provides a saturated steam environment in said chamber at said desired temperature T1; d. creating a vacuum in said chamber; and. introducing steam into said chamber until a pressure monitor and controller determines that the reaching of said target subatmospheric pressure P1, thereby indicating that said chamber has reached said target temperature T1; and f. maintaining said temperature chamber at T1 and pressure P1 for a period sufficient to reduce said bioburden time.