How can we know how effective is our sterilization process?

    Everyone knows that the correct sterilization of the materials involved in medical practice is basic for ensuring the success of treatments by avoiding the spread of infections and diseases, but how can we know how effective can our sterilization process be. What are the factors determining the success or failure of these process?

- Number and location of microorganisms: Its obvious that, the larger the amount of m.o. is, the more time will it take to kill all of them. For sure the location of them is also a big factor, thus some instruments need to be disassembled for the disinfectant to arrive to every bit of its surface.

- Resistance of the m.o.: Not all the bacteria are the same, there are easy-to-kill bacteria and more resistant ones, that can even turn into speres. It is critical to know what type of bacteria we are facing in order to properly sterilize our instruments. There are also some bacteria who grew inmune and resistant to several types of germicidal.

- Concentration and potency of the disinfectants: The more potent and concentrated the disinfectant is, the better results in less time we will achieve.

- Physical and chemical factors: Temperature, PH, humidity... all of these are factors that may improve or weaken the effect of the germicidals. Its important to know which factors affect which products, so we can use them more effectively.

- Organic and inorganic matter: Serum, blood, pus, fecal and lubricant material can react with disinfection and sometimes shut it down, thus making the desired effect take more time to reach.

- Duration of exposure: Every product has a minimum action time, of course, the longer the contact time is, the better results will we get.

- Bio-films: Bio-films are microbial communities that are tightly attached to surfaces and cannot be easily removed. Theses are much more resistant than the microbial themselves.  Its important to eliminate it to clear all the bacteria.