Criteria for determining steam sterilization cycles for lubricated and nonlubricated mechanical equipment.

Requirements and procedures for determining steam sterilization cycles for lubricated and nonlubricated, complex, mechanical equipment are established. Factors affecting exposure times are discussed, as are procedures and data needed to determine the penetrability of steam into mechanical equipment, and the effect of lubricating oil in impeding steam penetration to the spore. The total effects of these factors in sterilizing times are presented. Sterilizers with a prevacuum cycle, which can remove air from the equipment efficiently and replace it with saturated steam, are recommended for complex mechanical equipment.