Sterilization process course

Sterilization is intended as the final result of a process which, thanks to the advancement of technology, tends to guarantee the condition in which the survival of microorganisms is highly unlikely. An object population is considered sterile if one in a million objects is contaminated. A material is defined sterile if the SAL (safety level of sterility) is less than 10−6; that is, when the chances of finding a microorganism are less than one in a million. The sterilization process consists of the following phases: transport, decontamination / disinfection, cleansing and washing, rinsing, drying, packaging, sterilization by device (e.g. autoclave), traceability, and finally removing the sterilized material in the place from which it was taken . The various processes destroy microorganisms causing the lethal alteration of some of their essential components; in particular, sterilization determines the denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids and the degradation of membrane and cell wall components. In each practice, a “space” must be provided for the procedures and the storage of sterile material. The ""space"" must provide for a flow distinction between dirty and clean material. By law, the sterilization procedure must be carried out ensuring the safety of the operator; this occurs with the use of gloves, preferably scratch-resistant, protective clothing and face protection devices from splashes of contaminated substances, such as oral-nasal masks, protective goggles or better protective shields.