What is the primary difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the primary difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Disinfection kills all microorganisms, sterilization does not
Sterilization kills all microorganisms, disinfection does not
Disinfection is faster than sterilization
Sterilization is only for surgical instruments
The primary difference is that sterilization kills all microorganisms, while disinfection reduces the number of viable organisms but may not eliminate all.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the primary difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Solution: The primary difference is that sterilization kills all microorganisms, while disinfection reduces the number of viable organisms but may not eliminate all.
Steps: 4
Step 1: Understand what disinfection means. Disinfection is a process that reduces the number of germs on surfaces or objects.
Step 2: Know that disinfection does not kill all germs. Some microorganisms may still survive after disinfection.
Step 3: Learn what sterilization means. Sterilization is a process that kills all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and spores.
Step 4: Remember the key difference: disinfection reduces germs but may leave some alive, while sterilization kills all germs completely.