Autoclaving means the processing of tools, linen, chemical utensils and fixtures, and other materials with hot steam at increased pressure. Under these conditions, all bacteria and viruses die quickly enough, in less than an hour.
Autoclaving is a narrower term than sterilization. Sterilization also implies the destruction of all pathogenic microorganisms, but different methods can be chosen, including autoclaving. In addition, it happens:
chemical sterilization (with various chemical reagents, for example, ethyl alcohol, gases, hydrogen peroxide, iodine compounds, chloramines, etc.);
ultraviolet sterilization, for example, using bactericidal irradiators, Ambilife air disinfection units;
ultrasound sterilization;
infrared processing;
sterilization in dry ovens (air sterilizers).
Autoclaving is performed using special apparatus - autoclaves. Autoclaves differ in size, design, and purpose. In laboratories and medical institutions, they are used for sterilization. At industrial enterprises, using autoclaves, they produce dyes, herbicides, industrial rubber goods, building materials, carbon fibers, metals, foodstuffs and much more. Household autoclaves for canning at home are also produced.
The principle of operation of the autoclave is based on the fact that at normal pressure, water boils at +100 ° C. With further heat input, the water temperature does not rise, but intense vaporization begins. If the vessel is hermetically closed, then the vapor pressure begins to rise. The temperature of water and steam also begins to rise. In a balanced system, the evaporation process stops, and the resulting hot steam easily penetrates into the cells of microorganisms, killing them.
Hot steam also kills spores. To increase the disinfecting effect, many models of autoclaves are equipped with a system for removing air and oxygen contained in it. This is because oxygen can help protect some bacteria. In contrast, steam in an evacuated autoclave has a higher penetrating power.
Autoclaves come in different designs, sizes, degrees of automation, but they all consist of:
external enclosure capable of withstanding high pressure;
covers with built-in pressure gauge and valve to reduce excess pressure;
chambers with water generating steam (equipped with a tap to drain the remaining water after the end of work);
chambers for sterilized materials and equipment, into which steam is supplied under pressure.
The heat supply can be either external, for example, from a gas or electric stove and built-in (electric heaters).
Working with an autoclave involves some risks. The autoclave can explode if left unattended. This is why autoclaving should only be carried out by specially trained personnel.
The autoclaving process begins with the appliance lid 
with sterilized objects placed in it, all taps are hermetically closed and closed, except for the air outlet valve. Water is poured into the water chamber and the heaters are turned on. They wait until the chamber with the material to be sterilized is filled with steam, which will begin to displace the air. The pressure is raised to 1 atmosphere and the air is completely released. After that, the pressure is brought (according to the readings of the pressure gauge) to the required value and from this moment the sterilization time counts down.
After the sterilization is over, the heaters are first turned off, then the tap is turned on and steam is released. Only after the pressure gauge shows a value of "0", the cover can be opened. All materials from the autoclave are immediately unloaded - they must not be left there! The water from the chamber is drained and the autoclave is left to dry.
There are two main autoclaving modes:
1. More severe with a temperature of +132 ° C and a pressure of 2 atmospheres. Sterilization time 20 minutes. In this mode, dressings, glass, porcelain and stainless steel dishes, corrosion-resistant instruments, glass syringes, needles, tweezers, etc. are sterilized; linen, overalls.
2. Gentle with a temperature of +120 ° C and a pressure of 1.1 atmospheres. Time - 45 minutes. This is how plastic products (polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, polystyrene), rubber, latex are sterilized.
In medical institutions and biological laboratories, the operation of the autoclave is periodically checked. To do this, at the next cycle of the device's operation, ampoules with benzoic acid (becomes purple when heated to +120 ° C) or with urea (melts at +132 ° C) are placed inside. For a more accurate analysis, tubes with saprophytes and their spores are placed in the autoclave, and then in the laboratory they check whether they survived the procedure.
1. GENERAL LABOR PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
1.1. The following persons are allowed to service sterilizers (autoclaves):
- at least 18 years old;
- passed a preliminary medical examination;
- having a certificate of completion of training and certification in the safe maintenance of sterilizers within the specified time frame;
- having group I on electrical safety;
- those who have passed the introductory briefing and initial briefing at the workplace.
An employee is allowed to self-service sterilizers after an internship for 8-12 shifts and testing knowledge of safe methods and techniques for performing work.
The re-instruction of the workers serving the sterilizers takes place 1 time in 3 months. Periodic certification for knowledge of safety requirements when servicing sterilizers is carried out once a year.
1.2. When working in sterilization departments, the following harmful and dangerous factors can affect the employee:
- increased surface temperature of equipment, materials;
- increased air temperature working area;
- high air humidity;
- an increased voltage value in an electrical circuit, the closure of which can pass through the human body.
1.3. The employee must report any accident at the workplace to his immediate supervisor.
2. LABOR PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS BEFORE STARTING WORK
2.1. Before starting work, put on sanitary clothes, remove hair under a hat. It is not allowed to pin sanitary clothes with needles, keep breakable and sharp objects in the pockets of clothes. It is not allowed to work without shoes.
2.2. Prepare the personal protective equipment, tools and devices necessary for the performance of the forthcoming work, check their serviceability.
2.3. Check the presence and serviceability of protective grounding, safety valves, interlocks and instrumentation. Electric sterilizers must be connected to the electrical network through an independent switch or circuit breaker... Plugging the sterilizer into a power outlet is not allowed.
2.4. Check the serviceability of the pressure gauges. Manometers are not allowed to be used in cases when:
- there is no seal or stamp;
- the term for checking the pressure gauge is overdue;
- when the pressure gauge is turned off, it does not return to the zero scale reading;
- glass is broken or there is other damage to the pressure gauge, which may affect the correctness of its readings.
2.5. All noticed violations of labor protection requirements at the workplace, as well as malfunctions of equipment, devices, tools and personal protective equipment must be immediately reported to the immediate supervisor and not start work until they are eliminated.
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR LABOR PROTECTION DURING WORK
3.1. Personnel serving sterilizers are prohibited from:
give steam to the sterilizer or turn on the heating with the lid loose;
turn on the sterilizer if the water level is insufficient or there is no water in the steam generator tank;
open the sterilizer lid or loosen its fastening at excessive pressure in the sterilizer;
work on a sterilizer that has defects that reduce its strength and stability;
work on the sterilizer after the expiration of the hydraulic test and manometer checks;
leave the sterilizer unattended during operation.
3.2. When sterilizing any solutions in it, it is allowed to open the door of the sterilizer not earlier than 30 minutes after the end of sterilization, being careful.
3.3. The sterilizer must be stopped:
- if the pressure in the sterilizer rises above the permitted one;
- in case of malfunctions of safety valves;
- if cracks, bulges, gaps in welds or their fogging, leaks in bolted joints, rupture of the gasket are found in the elements of the sterilizer operating under pressure;
- when the liquid level drops below the permissible level;
- in the event of a fire;
- in case of malfunction or incomplete number of cover parts;
- in case of malfunction of safety interlocking devices, measuring instruments and automation equipment.
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR LABOR PROTECTION IN EMERGENCY SITUATION
4.1. In the event of an emergency, turn off the equipment, notify people around them about the danger, report the incident to the immediate supervisor and act in accordance with his instructions.
4.2. In case of fire or fire, immediately inform the fire department by phone - 01, start extinguishing the fire with the available primary fire extinguishing means, inform the immediate supervisor about the fire.
4.3. Provide first aid to victims of injury, poisoning, sudden acute illness, following the instructions "" (I 01-2014), if necessary, call an ambulance by phone - 03.
5. LABOR PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS AT THE END OF WORK
5.1. Turn off the equipment, make sure that there is no pressure in the sterilizers.
5.2. Make appropriate entries in the maintenance log.
5.3. Report all deficiencies discovered during work to the immediate supervisor.
Sterilization by boiling.
Sterilization by boiling is performed in a sterilizer. Distilled water is poured into the sterilizer, since the tap water forms scale. (Glass objects are immersed in cold, metal objects are in hot water with the addition of sodium bicarbonate). The items to be sterilized are boiled over low heat for 30-60 minutes. The beginning of sterilization is considered to be the moment when water boils in the sterilizer. At the end of boiling, the instruments are taken with sterile tweezers, which are boiled along with the rest of the items.
Dry heat sterilization.
Dry heat sterilization is carried out in a Pasteur oven. The material prepared for sterilization is placed on the shelves so that it does not come into contact with the walls. The cabinet is closed and then the heating is turned on. The duration of sterilization at a temperature of 150 ° C is 2 hours, at 165 ° C - 1 hour, at 180 ° C - 40 min, at 200 ° C - 10-15 min (at 170 ° C paper and cotton wool turn yellow, and at a higher temperature charred). The start of sterilization is the moment when the temperature in the oven reaches the desired height. At the end of the sterilization period, the oven is turned off, but the cabinet doors are not opened until complete cooling, since cold air entering the inside of the cabinet can cause cracks in hot dishes.
Steam sterilization under pressure.
Steam sterilization under pressure is performed in an autoclave. The autoclave consists of two boilers inserted one into the other, a casing and a lid. The outer boiler is called a water vapor chamber, the inner one is called a sterilization chamber. Steam is generated in the steam boiler. The material to be sterilized is placed in the inner cauldron. In the upper part of the sterilization kettle there are small openings through which steam from the steam chamber flows. The autoclave lid is hermetically screwed onto the casing. In addition to the listed main parts, the autoclave has a number of parts that regulate its operation: pressure gauge, water gauge glass, safety valve, outlet, air and condensation cocks. The pressure gauge is used to determine the pressure generated in the sterilization chamber. Normal Atmosphere pressure(760 mm Hg. Art.) Is taken as zero, therefore, in an idle autoclave, the pressure gauge needle is at zero. There is a definite relationship between the readings of the manometer and the temperature (Table 1).
The red line on the pressure gauge scale indicates the maximum working pressure that is allowed in the autoclave. The safety valve serves to protect against excessive pressure build-up. It is set at a given pressure, that is, the pressure at which sterilization is to be performed; when the pressure gauge needle goes beyond the line, the autoclave valve automatically opens and releases excess steam, thereby slowing down further pressure rise.
On the side wall of the autoclave there is a gauge glass showing the water level in the steam boiler. On the tube of the gauge glass, there are two horizontal lines - lower and upper, denoting, respectively, the permissible lower and upper water level in the water vapor chamber. The air valve is designed to remove air from the sterilization and water vapor chambers at the beginning of sterilization, since air, being a poor conductor of heat, disrupts the sterilization regime. At the bottom of the autoclave there is a condensation valve for emptying the sterilization chamber from the condensate formed during the heating of the material to be sterilized.
Rules for working with an autoclave.
Before starting work, inspect the autoclave and instrumentation. In autoclaves with automatic steam control on an electric vacuum pressure gauge of the water vapor chamber, the arrows are set in accordance with the sterilization mode: the lower arrow is set to 0.1 atm. lower, the upper one is 0.1 atm. above the working pressure, the water vapor chamber is filled with water up to the upper mark of the measuring glass. During the period of filling with water, the valve on the pipe through which the steam enters the chamber is kept open for free air exit from the boiler. The sterilization chamber of the autoclave is loaded with the material to be sterilized. After that, the lid (or door) of the autoclave is closed, tightly fastened with a central closure or bolts; to avoid skewing, the bolts are screwed crosswise (in diameter). Then turn on the heating source ( electricity, steam), closing the valve on the pipe connecting the steam source with the sterilization chamber. With the onset of vaporization and the creation of pressure in the water vapor chamber, blowing is performed (air removal from the sterilization boiler). The air removal method is determined by the design of the autoclave. At first, the air comes out in separate portions, then an even continuous stream of steam appears, indicating that the air has been completely expelled from the sterilization chamber. After removing the air, the valve is closed, and a gradual increase in pressure begins in the sterilization chamber.
The start of sterilization is the moment when the pressure gauge needle shows the set pressure. After that, the intensity of heating is reduced so that the pressure in the autoclave remains at the same level for the required time. At the end of the sterilization time, the heating is stopped. Close the valve in the line supplying steam to the sterilization chamber and open the valve on the condensing (downward) pipe to reduce the vapor pressure in the chamber. After the pressure gauge needle drops to zero, slowly loosen the hold-down devices and open the autoclave lid.
The temperature and duration of sterilization are determined by the quality of the sterilized material and the properties of those microorganisms with which it is contaminated.
Temperature control in the sterilization chamber is carried out periodically using bacteriological tests. Biotests are prepared by the bacteriological laboratories of the TsSEN. If these tests fail, the technical condition of the autoclave is checked.
Sterilization of the instrument is a necessity in the medical field and cosmetology. For this, special equipment is used. The most common are autoclaves. They can have different performance, design, technical features.
Three types of autoclaves are used in cosmetology and medicine:
- columnar;
- horizontal;
- vertical.
Each device is equipped with a heat exchanger (external or internal), a special mixing device. The latter can be mechanical, electromagnetic, pneumatic. Maintenance and repair of the autoclave is carried out by a master, taking into account its design and technical features.
Features of the use and repair of autoclaves
Certain requirements are imposed on sterilization equipment. First of all, it must be serviceable and efficient. Autoclaves are used in areas where the sterility of the instrument means a lot. Accordingly, the condition of the sterilization equipment must be carefully monitored.
Maintenance and repair of autoclaves must be carried out in a planned manner. During maintenance, specialized specialists assess the condition of the sterilization equipment, reveal hidden defects in parts, and diagnose the operability of units. If necessary, worn-out elements are replaced with new ones. Planned component repairs are also carried out.
Autoclave repair is a challenge for professionals
Maintenance, modernization, restoration of sterilization equipment should be carried out by specialists of the appropriate profile. Work is carried out both at the facility where the equipment is used in Moscow or another city with a visit by the master, and at the service center.
Diagnostics, expertise, autoclave repair require special equipment and tools, certain knowledge and skills. Trust the execution of diagnostic and renovation works necessary for professionals.
Glory Med Service engineers and technicians will carry out the entire range of necessary service work with a guarantee of the quality of the result. We service autoclaves of all common brands and models. Cooperation with clients is carried out on a contractual basis.
We also carry out testing, commissioning of sterilization equipment during the modernization of the material and technical base in a medical institution, a cosmetology office.
Question answer
Question # 260
Sanzhiev Aldar Nikolaevich asked a question on the topic: autoclave repair
Good afternoon, please tell me how much will it cost to repair an autoclave in the city of Tomsk? along with all costs? We need to diagnose, disassemble, repair the pressure gauge, service the control valve, repair the emergency valve, clean the expansion barrel, clean the hydraulic pipes, assemble the autoclave, and test the autoclave. Can you please throw off the Commercial offer to pay for your services, to settle the price with your superiors?
To the question #260 replied GloryMedEstetic Sergei Nikolaevich, Lead Engineer
Good afternoon. We have a service center only in Moscow. You can send it to us for diagnostics and repair. The exact price can be said only after the diagnosis.
Maxim continued the question on the topic: autoclave repair
To make canned food tasty, choose only fresh and high-quality products. Wash glass jars, fill them with prescription products and seal with metal lids. It is not necessary to pre-sterilize autoclave jars.
Loading cans into an autoclave
Place closed jars on the wire rack at the bottom of the autoclave. It is possible to install cans in the autoclave in several layers. The next row of cans can be placed directly on the lids of the previous row.
If the autoclave is equipped with special clamping cassettes, the cans are installed in them according to the instructions that come with the device.
Attention! Important! Only one type of cans with the same lids must be installed in one layer!
Then pour into the autoclave cold water so that the free space to the upper edge of the device is approximately 3-4 cm.
Preservation in an autoclave
Close the cover of the machine, make sure the O-ring is present. Close the cover. To prevent the cover from skewing to the side, and it lies flat, tighten the nuts crosswise.
If the autoclave is supplied without cassettes compensating for the pressure difference in the cans and the apparatus, pump air into the tank with a pump through the "nipple" until the pressure gauge shows 1 atm with an automobile or any other pump. The creation of a pressure of up to 1 atm in the autoclave is necessary to preserve the integrity of the cans, since when heated, a difference in pressure is formed in the autoclave itself and inside the cans, and to check the tightness of the connection between the lid and the body.
If the autoclave is supplied with special clamping cassettes, there is no need to pre-pump.
Turn on heating. As it heats up, the pressure in the device will increase, which we need - 0.4 MPa, it corresponds to 120 ° C. When the autoclave is heated to the required temperature, the cans must be kept in this mode for the time recommended for canned food. For example, for meat it is about an hour, canned vegetables in an autoclave will be ready after 20 minutes of sterilization at the same temperature, pickled mushrooms must be cooked for 40-50 minutes at a temperature of at least 110 degrees.
Completion of sterilization
After the required time has elapsed, gradually reduce the pressure, gradually reducing the heating until the heat source is completely turned off. Allow the installation to cool down to a temperature of no more than 30 ° C, then slowly release the pressure with a nipple. Avoid sudden heating and cooling, sudden release and pressure increase - cans may open.
Before opening the lid, turn the pressure relief valve for a test time to ensure that the pressure in the autoclave and outside has equalized. If nothing happened, you can safely open the lid.
Canned food is ready!
Open the lid and remove the cans. One tab and bringing the canned food to cooking takes 3-3.5 hours. As a rule, experienced people do this in the afternoon and by the evening they turn off the autoclave and then leave it to cool in this position until the morning.
When the sun rises, you can take out ready-made jars, which will then be a wonderful delicacy to your table!
After you have studied the instructions for using the autoclave, you can start preparing dishes, including: fish and meat stews, vegetable preparations, homemade pickles, jams and preserves.
Sterilization modes
| Name of canned food | The volume of the can, ml. | Sterilization temperature, о С | Sterilization duration, minutes |
| Canned meat | 350 | 120 | 30 |
| 500 | 40 | ||
| 1000 | 60 | ||
| Canned poultry meat | 350 | 120 | 20 |
| 500 | 30 | ||
| 1000 | 50 | ||
| Canned fish | 350 | 115 | 20 |
| 500 | 25 | ||
| 1000 | 30 | ||
| Canned vegetables | 350 | 100 | 10 |
| 500 | 15 | ||
| 1000 | 20 | ||
| Marinated mushrooms | 350 | 110 | 20 |
| 500 | 30 | ||
| 1000 | 40 |
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