Everyone has been to the dentist or a medical doctor. Some individuals may have undergone surgery, some may have gotten a treatment at a local spa, and some may have gotten a manicure and pedicure at a nail salon. Many people have gotten hair cuts at their local salon, maybe a piercing or a tattoo at a shop, a meal at a local restaurant, or maybe took their pet to the vet.
But what do all of these establishments have in common?
All of these establishments have an autoclave. An autoclave is a device that uses steam and pressure simultaneously to kill microorganisms and effectively sterilize different tools and equipment. This is important in medical, spas, and different kinds of establishments to prevent the spread of bacterial infection in people.
The autoclave was first created to inactivate different kinds of bacteria and endospores. Most bacteria are killed within about 10 minutes of being placed in boiling water. Endospores and certain viruses, however, are able to survive extreme environmental conditions and are not killed as easily. Some bacterial endospores can resist boiling for more than 20 hours. The formation of endospores by bacteria is very important in the medical, esthetics, and food industries due to the endospore’s resistance to heat and many chemicals such as disinfectants and antiseptics. Because of this, the autoclave was created to kill bacteria and inactivate any endospore, viruses, and bacterial spores. They are killed in about 15 minutes of being placed inside an autoclave. Autoclaves are most effective when the bacteria are in direct contact to the steam or when they are placed in a small volume of aqueous liquid (primarily water).
The only exception to this are prions, which cannot be killed using an autoclave and are extremely dangerous due to its pathogenic properties. Prions are infectious proteins that causes neurological diseases, including the common disease known as mad cow disease.
The reason why it is important to inactivate endospores in particular is because they are hard to treat in infected people due to their antibiotic resistance. This is why specific protocols must be met in certain establishments to successfully eliminate any disease causing bacteria and keep the general public safe by using an autoclave.
So the next time you go get your nails done, or go to one of the establishments listed above, make sure that they have an autoclave on site and that they are using it correctly!
Stay safe! (and humble)
– Ivy ~