What sterilisation factors are used for drapes and swabs?

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Multiple Choice

What sterilisation factors are used for drapes and swabs?

Explanation:
Sterilization with steam under pressure relies on a precise combination of pressure, temperature, and time to reliably destroy microorganisms. For drapes and swabs, which are textiles and often sterilized as wrapped packs, the standard practical cycle is 15 psi at 121°C for 30 minutes. This setup provides enough heat and steam penetration to ensure sterility without unnecessarily degrading the fabric. The other options change one or more parameters away from this established cycle, which could either reduce sterilization effectiveness or unnecessarily prolong exposure. Therefore, 15 psi, 121°C, 30 minutes is the appropriate combination for drapes and swabs.

Sterilization with steam under pressure relies on a precise combination of pressure, temperature, and time to reliably destroy microorganisms. For drapes and swabs, which are textiles and often sterilized as wrapped packs, the standard practical cycle is 15 psi at 121°C for 30 minutes. This setup provides enough heat and steam penetration to ensure sterility without unnecessarily degrading the fabric. The other options change one or more parameters away from this established cycle, which could either reduce sterilization effectiveness or unnecessarily prolong exposure. Therefore, 15 psi, 121°C, 30 minutes is the appropriate combination for drapes and swabs.

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