European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

METHODS OF STERLIZATION

Raikom Teron*, Tanvay Jaithliya, Shubam Sehgal, Abujam Nganthoi Devi, Gaurav Vaishnav and Rajan Kothari

ABSTRACT

Sterilization (or sterilisation) refers to any process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, prions, unicellular eukaryotic organisms such as Plasmodium, etc.) present in a specified region, such as a surface, a volume of fluid, medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media. A widely used method for heat sterilization is the autoclave, sometimes called a converter or steam sterilizer. Dry heat was the first method of sterilization and is a longer process than moist heat sterilization. Ethylene oxide (EO, EtO) gas treatment is one of the common methods used to sterilize, pasteurize, or disinfect items because of its wide range of material compatibility. Sterilization can be achieved using electromagnetic radiation such as electron beams, X-rays, gamma rays, or irradiation by subatomic particles. Fluids that would be damaged by heat, irradiation or chemical sterilization, such as drug products, can be sterilized by microfiltration using membrane filters.

Keywords: fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, prions.