Nurse Aide I Module B – Infection Prevention Practice Test

Disinfection and sterilization are two different levels of cleansing. Disinfection reduces the number of pathogens on inanimate surfaces, but it does not guarantee that every microorganism, especially resistant spores, is killed. Sterilization aims to destroy all forms of microbial life, including spores, so items that must be completely free of microorganisms—often to prevent entry into sterile body areas—are sterilized. That’s why the statement that disinfection reduces pathogens on inanimate surfaces and sterilization removes all microorganisms, including spores, is the best description of their purposes.

Eliminating spores is not what disinfection does, and sterilization is not simply another word for disinfection. Sterilization is not limited to liquids; it applies to instruments and other items that require complete microbial destruction before use.