Difference Between Disinfection and Sterilization, Methods and Examples

Difference Between Disinfection and Sterilization Overview

Microorganisms have the potential to cause a broad spectrum of diseases in humans and animals, and they may also endanger health by contaminating food. As a result, eliminating or inhibiting their growth is beneficial in mitigating their negative effects. Decontamination is the process of removing harmful microorganisms from a medical device, instrument, or environment by killing or inhibiting their growth. Decontamination may be accomplished via a variety of methods, including disinfection, sterilization, and antisepsis. Disinfection and sterilization are both terms used to describe the process of killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Sterilization and disinfection are critical in the pharmaceutical industry for ensuring that products are free of harmful microorganisms and contaminants. However, there are significant differences between disinfection and sterilization, as outlined below.