What term describes the complete killing of all living organisms?

• A. Disinfection
• B. Sterilization
• C. Asepsis
• D. Decontamination

Answer: (B)

Sterilization is the process designed to completely eliminate all living organisms, including spores, from or on an item or surface. This is the highest level of microbial control and is necessary when absolute sterility is required, such as for instruments or materials that will contact sterile tissues. Disinfection reduces the number of microbes but does not guarantee the destruction of all organisms or spores. Asepsis means an environment or site is free from disease-causing pathogens, but it does not imply every single organism has been eradicated from every surface. Decontamination lowers risk by removing or inactivating many contaminants but also does not assure complete sterility. In practice, sterilization is achieved through methods like autoclaving (moist heat under pressure), dry heat, chemical sterilants, or gas sterilization, chosen based on what can tolerate the item and whether true sterility is needed.