Abstract: OBJECTIVE To understand the current situation of use of small steam sterilizers in Chinese hospitals. METHODS The questionnaire was designed according to the national industry standard, and the survey was carried out by the combination of written questionnaire and onsite survey. Totally 163 hospitals in 6 provinces and cities in China were investigated with the start from Nov, 2018. RESULTS The medical institutions equipped with small steam sterilizers accounted for more than 50% among all of the surveyed hospitals. All levels of hospitals had been equipped with N type and B type and S type small steam sterilizers. Type N sterilization cycle was more frequently used in operating rooms (36.37%). Type B sterilization cycle was more frequently used in dental departments (50.00%) and microbiology laboratories (29.73%) .Type S sterilization cycle was more frequently used in operating rooms (37.50%) and dental departments (34.37%). The proportion of hospitals in which the rapid sterilization procedures were used was close to 50%. The emergency surgery (72.41%) was the major reason for the use of rapid sterilization procedure in tertiary hospitals, and consecutive surgery (64.71%)was the major reason in secondary hospitals. CONCLUSION It is necessary for the hospital to strengthen the training of use of small steam sterilizers, carry out regular inspection and supervision of departments and promote the standardized use of the small sterilization so as to ensure the effect of sterilization of equipment and articles and prevent nosocomial infection.