Steam sterilization monitors

Three kinds of evidence

The CDC describes three lines of monitoring for steam. Physical monitors are the printout: temperature, time at temperature, and pressure. Chemical indicators go outside the package and inside it. They show that the package saw defined conditions. They do not prove sterility by themselves. The biological indicator for steam contains spores of Geobacillus stearothermophilus (formerly Bacillus stearothermophilus).

A Bowie-Dick test is for dynamic-air-removal sterilizers. Run it each day the sterilizer is used, before the first load, in an empty chamber, placed horizontally at the front bottom of the rack near the door and over the drain. A uniform color change passes. A spot means trapped air. Do not run loads on a failed test.

What a failure triggers

A positive spore test is uncommon and still stops you. The CDC lists operator error, inadequate steam delivery, and equipment malfunction as causes. Recall the loads the policy names, document what you did, and do not release implants that were waiting on that biological result. Chemical indicator classes (process, Bowie-Dick, integrating, and the rest) tell you what the strip was designed to measure. Use the class the IFU and the policy specify.