A method for the sterilization of endoscopes and similar instruments, comprising the following steps of: washing and / or disinfecting or sterilizing an endoscope in a container by one or more washing fluids； dry the endoscope inside the container using one or more drying fluids. The method is characterized by the fact that the pressure inside the container during disinfection or sterilization and / or drying is kept lower than atmospheric pressure and the container is pressurized after drying, at a pressure higher than at atmospheric pressure, before releasing the endoscope.
