Final answer:
An Autoclave is a device used to sterilize equipment using steam to deactivate microbes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, through moist-heat sterilization. It was designed by Charles Chamberland in 1879 and remains the most effective sterilization method for surgical instruments and other equipment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The device that uses steam to sterilize equipment and deactivate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores is an Autoclave. Autoclaves operate on the principle of moist-heat sterilization, where they are capable of raising temperatures above the boiling point of water. This process can effectively sterilize surgical equipment and other items, ensuring that even the most resistant forms of microbes, such as endospores, are deactivated.
Charles Chamberland designed the modern autoclave in 1879 while working in Louis Pasteur's laboratory. The autoclave has stood the test of time to remain the most effective method of sterilization, not just in clinical settings, but also in large-scale industrial applications with the use of industrial-sized autoclaves called retorts for moist-heat sterilization. This demonstrates the autoclave's vital role in microbial control, maintaining sterile conditions for medical and laboratory equipment.