Surgical articles sterilization - in autoclave and water overflow container by water, air and steam flushing and heating to sterilization temp.

摘要

Bloodstained and infected articles such as surgical knives from an operating theatre are cleaned and disinfected by washing with cold water in an autoclave, followed by the immission of air and steam into it and into the container with the dirty water overflow. Both autoclave and container are heated to the sterilisation temp. of 134 degrees C and allowed to cool. This solves the problem of disposal of the autoclave wash water which carries the bulk of the infected remnants. Both containers and the piping between them are sterilised at each cycle and the effluent from both is safe to be discharged to the drainage system.