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Outbreaks of post-operative sepsis are not uncommon, and many have been reported (Devenish and Miles,

The degree of vacuum and time of application needed to dry steam sterilized dressings has been investigated. If the steam supply is diy, and the pressure in the drying stage is reduced to an absolute pressure of 50 mm Hg, dressings will be cool and dry without holding the vacuum, provided they are not damp before sterilization.

SUMMARY: During the steam sterilization of dressings some degree of superheating occurs. With dressings normally hydrated, that is with about 5% moisture content, the small degree of superheating which occurs is unlikely to be of consequence; but if dressings contain less than 1% of moisture before sterilization, a significant degree of superheating may occur. The use of drums is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in regulating superheating, which occurs to the same degree whether the air is removed initially by vacuum pump or by downward displacement. The use of a high initial vacuum does not increase the risk of superheating.