What is the primary purpose of an autoclave?

The primary purpose of an autoclave is to sterilize instruments. An autoclave uses high-pressure steam at a specified temperature to kill all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This process is essential in a surgical environment to ensure that any surgical instruments used are free of contaminants, thereby preventing infection and complications during procedures.

While cleaning instruments is an important step in instrument processing, it typically occurs before sterilization and does not ensure that microorganisms are destroyed. Disinfecting surfaces is also vital but serves a different purpose by reducing the number of pathogens rather than achieving complete sterilization. Drying equipment, while it may occur in conjunction with some sterilization processes, is not the primary function of an autoclave.