What is the role of the biological indicator in sterilization?

The role of the biological indicator in sterilization is to monitor sterilization effectiveness. Biological indicators consist of a specific type of microorganism that is resistant to the particular method of sterilization being employed, such as steam, ethylene oxide, or dry heat. After the sterilization process, the biological indicators are cultured to see if any of the microorganisms survive. If they do not grow, it confirms that the sterilization process was effective in eliminating the targeted bacteria or spores within the sterilization load. This provides an essential verification step in ensuring that the sterilization process achieved its intended purpose, thus maintaining safety and preventing infections in clinical settings.

Other methods, such as physical indicators (which can verify temperature or ensure proper vacuum levels) or chemical indicators (which measure chemical levels) are important in the sterilization process, but they do not provide the definitive verification of sterilization effectiveness that biological indicators do.