The sterilization process aims to eliminate all living microbial forms (pathogenic and non-pathogenic, including spores and fungi) from the instruments used. The sterilization of surgical instruments in medical and dental practices is carried out using steam autoclaves that must comply with EN 13060.
Standards EN 29000 and UNI EN 556-1 define sterilization as a special process whose effectiveness cannot be verified by inspecting the finished product. The process must therefore be validated prior to its execution, as a whole protocol, starting with decontamination and ending with the return of the reconditioned instrument back into service.
This definition emphasises the crucial importance of every single aspect of the sterilization process. Therefore, just like the correct choice of autoclave cycle, it is important that the autoclave is loaded correctly.