Question

The best sterilizer in a home setting is boiling water. Most homes do not come equipped with an autoclave. Chemicals for disinfection are used for sterilizing heat-sensitive equipment in the hospital setting and would not be appropriate for a urinary catheter.

a. true
b. false

Answer 1

The assertion that boiling water is the best sterilizer in a home setting is false, as it does not kill all forms of microbes like endospores. Autoclaves are more effective for complete sterilization, and chemical disinfectants are used for heat-sensitive equipment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that boiling water is the best sterilizer in a home setting is false. While boiling water can be employed for disinfection, it is not the most effective method of sterilization because it does not kill all forms of microbial life, such as endospores, which can survive boiling temperatures. On the other hand, autoclaves, which utilize moist-heat sterilization at temperatures of 121 °C or 132 °C and at a pressure of 15 to 20 psi, are capable of achieving complete sterilization including the destruction of endospores. Therefore, in a medical or laboratory environment, autoclaving is the preferred method of sterilization. For heat-sensitive equipment, chemical disinfectants or sterilants are appropriate as they can achieve sterilization without the high temperatures that could damage sensitive items.