Destroying or killing all microbes is called?

• A. Cleaning
• B. Sanitation
• C. Disinfection
• D. Sterilization

Answer: (D)

The important idea here is levels of microbial control. Destroying or killing all microbes is called sterilization. Sterilization is the highest level of microbial control and aims to eliminate every form of life, including hardy spores. This is necessary for tools that will contact sterile tissues or penetrate the skin.

Cleaning removes visible dirt and debris but doesn’t guarantee removal of all microbes. Sanitation lowers the overall microbial load to a safer level, yet still isn’t guaranteed to eliminate all microorganisms. Disinfection kills many pathogens but may not destroy all microbes or spores. So sterilization is the best answer because it represents the complete elimination of all microorganisms.