What does the term "sterilization" refer to in infection control?

The term "sterilization" in infection control specifically refers to the process of destroying all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This ensures that an object or surface is completely free from any microorganisms, thereby significantly minimizing the risk of infection. Sterilization is crucial in settings that require the highest levels of cleanliness, such as hospitals and clinics, particularly for surgical instruments and other tools that come into contact with sterile tissues.

While cleaning surfaces, using antibacterial soap, and disinfecting tools may reduce the level of microbes, they do not achieve complete eradication of all microbial forms as sterilization does. Cleaning typically involves removing dirt and organic material, which can still leave viable microorganisms. Using antibacterial soap may kill some bacteria but does not ensure the elimination of all types of microbes, similar to the disinfecting process that targets pathogens but does not necessarily destroy all microbial life.