Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with the filing of the Form 10-Q of STERIS Corporation for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certifies, that, to such officer’s knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods expressed in the Report.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to STERIS Corporation and will be retained by STERIS Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

/s/ Les C. Vinney

Name: Les C. Vinney

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Laurie Brlas

Name: Laurie Brlas

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief
     Financial Officer

Dated: February 11, 2004