Practice updates ease steam sterilization balancing act

Reliable and robust enough for daily use on most medical devices, steam is the most common sterilant in healthcare facilities. However, using steam properly requires a balancing act. For example, too much moisture can lead to wet packs, while steam that is too dry might not be sufficient to achieve sterility. Packaging must be porous, yet not allow contaminants to compromise sterility. Even following instructions for use (IFU) can be a balancing act because IFUs for the device, the packaging, and the sterilization system may conflict.