Enlist various methods for testing sterilization and germicidal processes. Describe any one of them.
Question
Enlist various methods for testing sterilization and germicidal processes. Describe any one of them.
Solution
There are several methods for testing sterilization and germicidal processes. These include:
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Biological Indicators: These are the most accepted means of directly monitoring the sterilization process because they directly determine whether the most resistant microorganisms (e.g., Bacillus spores) are present rather than merely determining whether the physical and chemical conditions necessary for sterilization have been met.
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Chemical Indicators: These are used to monitor whether the parameters to achieve sterilization have been met for a specific sterilization process, such as steam or vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilization.
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Physical Indicators: These are devices or systems used to monitor physical conditions during the sterilization process. Examples include temperature, pressure, and time.
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Enzyme Indicators: These are a new technology that provides results in a shorter time than biological indicators but with a similar level of assurance.
Let's describe Biological Indicators in detail:
Biological indicators (BIs) are among the most reliable methods for testing sterilization processes. They contain bacterial spores that are highly resistant to the sterilization process. The most commonly used BIs contain spores of the bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus for steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilization, and Bacillus atrophaeus for dry heat and ethylene oxide sterilization.
The BI is exposed to the sterilization process and then incubated under conditions that favor the growth of the spores. If the sterilization process has been effective, the spores in the BI will be killed and will not grow during incubation. However, if the sterilization process was not effective, the spores will survive and grow during incubation. The growth of the spores is detected by a change in color or turbidity in a growth medium.
The use of BIs is considered the gold standard for validation of sterilization processes.
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