EFHSS Questions and Answers - Question Q00682

dry heat sterilization is not used in hospitals
why?

Dear

The method of sterilization using dry heat has several deficiencies.
According to the the German speaking Working Group for Hospital Hygiene (WAMF) the deficiencies are:

• heat distribution over the entire surface of the item occurs relatively slowly;
• the formation of cold pockets reduces the reliability of the procedures;
• the prepartation and the disposition of the sterilization goods greatly influences the effectivness of the procedure;
• validation of the procedure is not possible.

With a few exceptions not directly involving patient care, even when the chamber is correctly loaded, dry heat sterilization is not a dependable procedure. The use of dry heat sterilization in either hospital or general practice is therefore not acceptable!
Should this procedures be used despit its known deficiencies, then a temperatur of 180 °C for at least 30 minutes must be maintained.
My addings are:
If dry heat has to be used the success of the process can only be assured to a certain degree:
if the sterilizer has an automatic controller
has a door lock that prevents access to the load before the cycle is completed
the sterilizer is not overloaded, e.g pack/trays have to be at least a centimeter apart to allow heated air to circulate
if the sterilizer is maintained appropriately and tested periodically.
And my last advice; If you have the choice between steam and dry heat, use steam sterilization!

Kind regards
Josy Holdener