BOSTON — State officials investigating a pharmacy linked to a deadly outbreak of meningitis said Tuesday they found shoddy sterilization practices and unclean conditions there, including debris-covered floor mats and standing water from a leaking boiler.

State officials also said the New England Compounding Center shipped steroids from the possibly contaminated batches suspected in the outbreak before it received its own test results confirming the drugs were sterile.

Gov. Deval Patrick said he’s ordered state pharmacy regulators to conduct surprise inspections — the first of which happened Tuesday — at companies similar to the NECC and take other steps to tighten oversight. The state also has moved to revoke the company’s operating license and the licenses of its top three pharmacists.

“Those whose laboratory practices caused this outbreak should never practice pharmacy or manufacture in Massachusetts again,” Patrick said.