Which process would completely destroy all microbial life, including spores, on instruments?

• A. Antisepsis
• B. Disinfection
• C. Sterilization
• D. Sanitization

Answer: (C)

Destruction of every living microbe, including spores, requires sterilization. Sterilization is the only process that guarantees all forms of microbial life are eliminated, not just reduced. Spores are highly resistant to many cleaning methods, so others like antisepsis (which targets living tissue), disinfection (which lowers but does not necessarily eradicate all pathogens on surfaces), and sanitization (which only lowers microbial counts to safe levels) don’t achieve complete sterility. Sterilization uses methods such as steam under pressure (autoclaving), dry heat, chemical sterilants, or radiation to ensure even spores are destroyed, making it the appropriate choice for instruments that must be sterile.