Some biological and physical factors in dry heat sterilization: a general review

Abstract

There is a surprising lack of quantitative data on sterilization by dry heat so that microbiologists have little knowledge of the role played by various biological and physical factors in this sterilizing process. A recent investigation by the author has shown that the aerobic mesophilic bacterial sporeformers, such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans, are the most resistant among several species of sporeforming bacteria to dry heat sterilization. The type of carrier on which the spores are exposed to dry heat markedly affects their thermal resistance. An analysis of four carriers showed that spores on sand or vermiculite are more difficult to destroy than spores on paper or glass. Spores under low vacuums are more susceptible to dry heat sterilization than spores in helium, which are more susceptible than spores in air. Spores trapped in solids have thermal resistance levels two or three times greater than those found for spores exposed to dry heat in air. Preliminary results on the combination of dry heat and ionizing radiation sterilization indicate no synergistic effects, i.e., the destruction obtained with each agent is additive. Another important variable that governs the interpretation of the effectiveness of dry heat sterilization tests is the recovery medium for heat-damaged spores. The kinetics of dry heat sterilization cannot be fully interpreted from the available data. Death follows a logarithmic pattern thereby implying a monomolecular reaction. The mechanism of death is thought to be due to an oxidative process.