What device uses high-pressure saturated steam to sterilize equipment, instruments, and waste?

• A. Sterilizer
• B. Autoclave
• C. Incinerator
• D. Pasteurizer

Answer: (B)

The key idea is sterilization with steam under pressure. High-temperature, saturated steam under pressure is incredibly effective at penetrating instruments and waste and killing microorganisms, including heat-resistant spores, because the moisture helps heat transfer and denatures proteins quickly. An autoclave is the device designed to generate this steam, apply it to loads, and then dry them, achieving reliable sterility. Typical cycles raise the temperature to around 121°C (250°F) under pressure for a specific time to ensure all surfaces are exposed.

This is what sets an autoclave apart from the other options: a general “sterilizer” term is broad and may refer to methods that don’t use steam under pressure; an incinerator destroys waste by burning it rather than using steam to sterilize; a pasteurizer heats liquids to reduce pathogens but at lower temperatures and without the goal of achieving complete sterility for instruments or waste.