What is the primary goal of filtration sterilization?

The primary goal of filtration sterilization is to eliminate microorganisms by passing a solution through a filter with pores small enough to trap bacteria and other pathogens. This method is effective for sterilizing heat-sensitive liquids and solutions that cannot withstand high temperatures used in traditional autoclaving or pasteurization methods.

Filtration sterilization works by creating a physical barrier to microorganisms, ensuring that the filtered solution is free of viable pathogens, which is crucial in maintaining safety and efficacy in intravenous therapies. The use of specific types of filters, typically with pore sizes of 0.22 microns or smaller, is essential for achieving sterilization.

Other methods, such as pasteurization, involve heating and are not the focus of filtration. Additionally, increasing shelf life pertains to preserving a solution’s stability rather than directly eliminating microorganisms, and enhancing flavor is completely unrelated to the primary objective of sterilization processes. Therefore, the answer denotes that filtration specifically targets the removal of microorganisms, making it a critical practice in IV therapy preparation.