Autoclaving is one of the most effective bio-medical waste disposal Fort Lauderdale techniques a health care facility can employ for its biohazardous waste. It uses no reagents to sterilize contaminated materials and it takes only a fraction of a time that some other medical waste management methods need.
Autoclaving, or steam sterilization, further ensures that the medical tools, are cleaned and sterilized thoroughly, thus allowing them to be safely reuse, without the fear of infecting a patient or a medical worker.
How is an Autoclave Used?
This machine is very good for sanitizing and disinfecting medical equipment such as sharps (needles, syringes, scalpels and so on). It does this by applying hot and pressurized steam in order to sterilize the instruments or medical waste and destroy any dangerous pathogens.
The autoclave, of course, first has to be prepared for use. Different waste and instruments will require different adjustments, so you should consult the manual that the manufacturer included with the steam sterilizer. However, usually, steam pressure of 12 psi, temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degree Celsius) and the timer set to 25-30 minutes do the trick when it comes to bio-medical waste disposal.
Once you have the autoclave adjusted properly and have put whatever it is you want to sterilize inside, close the door and “push the button”. Inside, as the water inside the chamber starts to boil, the steam will build up and begin to do its magic. As it slowly fills the chamber, the steam will penetrate through the autoclave contents and sterilize them, as well as kill any microorganism on them.
When operating an autoclave, you need to remember that there is a recommended sterilization procedure for practically each object and material. This also depends on the size of the autoclave machine. Smaller ones need only 15 or so minutes, while larger ones will require a full hour in order to complete their steam sterilization cycle.
Of course, you should never be impatient when it comes to autoclaving. Wait until the pressure indicator and the timer both reach 0 and only then open the door. Be careful while doing so, however, as the hot steam that will rush outside can burn your skin quite easily. To make sure this does not happen, slowly open the door to allow the steam to gradually go out and protect your face, hands and arms. Especially remember to wear heat-resistant gloves. Also, use forceps to grab the stuff inside.
Next thing you should do, after you have emptied the autoclave is to pour any contaminated leftovers into a special biohazard container and wash the glassware with hot liquid. Finally, twist the drain control to the “open” position to empty any water left in the chamber.
In Conclusion
Hygiene and safety should always be top priorities in the health care industry. An autoclave provides the help you need against hazardous microorganisms whether you want to make sure that you can safely reuse some medical instruments, or you want to make sure your bio-medical waste disposal Fort Lauderdale is done well!
