Prevention of overloading the sterilizer

Most sterilizers have a system to notify the operator of mechanical malfunction, but sterilizers cannot notify the operator whether the contents of the instrument packs or cassettes are sterile or not. Operator error in loading the sterilizer could result in failure to sterilize all the packs in spite of the proper time, temperature and/or pressure. It is important to avoid overloading the sterilizer or loading packs and cassettes on top of one another; use of a cassette system helps to reduce operator error due to overloading. The heat and/or steam must be able to circulate throughout the chamber and between the packs or cassettes for successful sterilization.