What Happens If You Don’t Autoclave?

Autoclave disinfects and sterilizes thoroughly via a combination of steam, pressure, and time. Unlike the usual disinfectants and sterilizations, an autoclave is designed and built for medical and industrial facilities because it can decontaminate specific waste as well as sterilize media instruments and labware.

In the medical industry, their waste might contain viruses, bacteria, and other biological materials that are recommended to be inactivated by autoclaving before disposal. It operates at high temperatures and pressure to kill spores and microorganisms.

The question is, what happens when you don’t autoclave certain items? There’s only one answer to this—you’ll be doomed.

The Downsides When You Don’t Autoclave

Let’s say you’re in a medical facility; the operating room is one of the most used areas in the hospital and there are plenty of moving parts here that are used on mild cases and individuals. The equipment in an operating room is one of the most important aspects here as they are the ones used for surgery.

Therefore, the tools and equipment must be completely sterile before they are used; otherwise, it can result in serious complications.

What happens if you don’t autoclave them?

• High risk of contamination: Residue left on surgical instruments can put the patient at a higher risk of infection when they’re used for surgery. This may also mean it can cause a serious spread of illnesses or diseases. When this happens, patients can become very ill that may require further medical attention after the surgery.
• Turn into a large-scale problem: Contamination creates a domino effect. Infection in one location in the hospital can affect people who have weakened immune systems. As a result, infections can spread to more than just one patient impacted by the contaminated surgical instrument. When this happens, it can cause a large-scale problem for the whole facility.
• Possibility of long-term Illnesses: Since contamination can occur in tools and equipment that are not properly sterilized, it can increase the possibility of long-term illnesses. Patients may contract serious illnesses due to the contamination. Usually, this will require long-term care and attention, and in some cases, some illnesses may be fatal.

Autoclaves are Essential in the Medical Field & Other Facilities

Laboratories, hospitals, and nursing homes can’t operate without professional autoclaves. There’s high demand here for sterilized instruments. Also, as mentioned, medical waste must be sterilized before disposal to ensure no one else gets infected after disposal.

There are different types of autoclaves you can get for your facility. It will all depend on your specific needs. For one, you can find a simple autoclave that is similar to a basic pressure cooker, which does the basic function of ensuring high temperature and pressure that can kill germs. This type of autoclave machine is used in cosmetic facilities and school labs. In some cases, there are used in research laboratories as well.

On the other hand, if you have a bigger establishment, you can get bigger autoclaves that can accommodate the high demand and equipment needed to be sterilized.

Implement Autoclave in Your Facility Today

If you think autoclave can help keep your tools and equipment sterile, and you’re looking for a more effective way to ensure they’re clean, consider autoclave. There is now a growing number of companies in various industries that are implementing the autoclave process, especially in our times today.

Viruses and bacteria can spread easily via the tools and equipment you use for work. So, don’t skip this process, and make sure you get the best autoclave machine that can accommodate your facility’s needs. It will significantly help your facility to be safe and secure.