AAMI ST79:2017/(R)2022

This recommended practice covers steam sterilization in health care facilities. The recommendations are intended to promote sterility assurance and to guide health care personnel in the proper use of processing equipment. Included within the scope of the recommended practice are functional and physical design criteria for sterilization processing areas (decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and sterile storage areas); staff qualifications, education, and other personnel considerations; processing procedures; installation, care, and maintenance of steam sterilizers; quality control; and quality process improvement.The following amendments to ST79:2017 are included in this document: Amendment 1: Environmental services/fans/food and drink; Amendment 2: Inspection of insulated instruments; Amendment 3: Modification of content pertaining to frequency of cleaning for routine care of sterilizers for sterile processing areas in health care facilities; and Amendment 4: Content addressing recording B1 lot numbers in sterilizer records for sterile processing in health care facilities.