What is typically done to ensure the sterility of surgical instruments before their use?

To ensure the sterility of surgical instruments before their use, autoclaving is the preferred method. Autoclaving involves the use of pressurized steam at high temperatures to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This process is highly effective and is a standard practice in surgical settings to prevent infection and maintain a sterile environment.

While other methods like wiping instruments with alcohol, ultrasonic cleaning, and manual scrubbing can help in cleaning the instruments, they do not achieve complete sterilization. Wiping with alcohol may remove surface contaminants but does not kill all microorganisms, especially spores. Ultrasonic cleaning is effective for removing debris and contaminants from difficult-to-reach areas, but it also doesn’t ensure sterility as there may be residual microorganisms. Manual scrubbing can clean the instruments, but, like the previous methods, it does not provide the thorough sterilization that autoclaving does. Thus, autoclaving stands out as the most reliable method for achieving sterility prior to surgical procedures.