What PSI is reached with pressure cooker style autoclaves?

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Multiple Choice

What PSI is reached with pressure cooker style autoclaves?

Explanation:
Steam under pressure raises the boiling point of water, so an autoclave can reach temperatures well above 100°C. In a pressure cooker–style autoclave, the standard setting is about 15 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure, which yields a saturated steam temperature of around 121°C. That combination—121°C for a defined exposure time—is what reliably sterilizes instruments by destroying microorganisms and spores. So 15 psi is the typical and most appropriate setting for this type of unit. Lower pressures wouldn’t reach the necessary temperature, while higher pressures would push temperatures above the standard cycle.

Steam under pressure raises the boiling point of water, so an autoclave can reach temperatures well above 100°C. In a pressure cooker–style autoclave, the standard setting is about 15 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure, which yields a saturated steam temperature of around 121°C. That combination—121°C for a defined exposure time—is what reliably sterilizes instruments by destroying microorganisms and spores. So 15 psi is the typical and most appropriate setting for this type of unit. Lower pressures wouldn’t reach the necessary temperature, while higher pressures would push temperatures above the standard cycle.

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