Double Door Autoclave Sterilizer: The Foundation Stone of Modern Sterile Processing in Hospitals

Upon entering any efficient Central Sterile Services Department, it is obvious that clean and dirty processes are physically segregated from each other. It is not done accidentally but constitutes an integral element of department's architecture. There is one special machine that makes such design possible. It is known as double door autoclave sterilizer. If your department works on single door or batch type autoclave sterilizers, then reading about this kind may open new perspectives for you.

What Is a Double Door Autoclave Sterilizer?

Actually, this autoclave sterilizer has two doors providing access to two different zones: one providing access to the "dirty" or loading zone and the other providing access to the "clean" or sterile storage zone. Instruments are loaded to the chamber contaminated and come out from the other side sterile. Thanks to this double door technology, it is impossible to contaminate the sterile zone unlike the situation with single door machine.

Why Hospitals and CSSDs Select This Type of Autoclave Sterilizers

The benefits of double door autoclave sterilizer are connected with the possibility of strict process discipline. It ensures one-way instrument flow, staff and trolleys movements. Moreover,

it decreases the probability of contamination, complies with the international infection control standards and helps simplify audit processes. All hospitals having large surgeries, dental clinics, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical units need such uncontaminated and uninterrupted instrument flow.

Key Features To Consider During Selection Process

Not all autoclave sterilizers that you may find on the market have the same level of reliability. Hospitals selecting an autoclave sterilizer should pay attention to such features of the equipment as chamber capacity, vacuum pump performance (pre-vacuum or gravity displacement), interlocking door system, validated cycle programs and data logging. Reliable double door autoclave sterilizer must provide compatibility with Class B cycles as well allowing sterilization of porous loads, hollow instruments and wrapped packs.

Another Areas of Application of Double Door Sterilizers

Double door sterilizers are not used only in operating rooms, they are used in dental practices, veterinary clinics, research laboratories and even in pharmaceutical units where sterile packaging is extremely important. Any places having high reprocessing volume and minimal risk of HAIs are suitable for double door sterilizers. They are increasingly used in tissue banks and biological labs.

Choosing the Correct Double Door Sterilizer

When choosing a sterilizer, apart from its chamber capacity, there are some additional aspects to be taken into account as well. Such things as build quality (SS316 chamber is likely to last much longer than other chambers made of cheaper materials), after sales services, availability of spare parts and CE/ISO 13485 approval. Machines produced by manufacturers who understand the needs of a hospital rather than capabilities of their own machine, are usually the ones which minimize turnaround time in sterile processing department.

Conclusion

To have a double door sterilizer is no longer a luxury; it becomes an absolute requirement for facilities which prioritize infection control.