Distinguish sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis.

Study for the Cengage Microbiology Test with helpful multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

The main idea here is understanding how sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis differ in what they target and where they’re applied. Sterilization means destroying all forms of microbial life and their reproductive structures, leaving no viable organisms; it’s typically used for inanimate objects like instruments and lab equipment. Disinfection lowers the number of viable microorganisms on inanimate surfaces but does not guarantee complete sterility, and some resistant forms may survive. Antisepsis reduces or inhibits microorganisms on living tissues to prevent infection, aiming for safety rather than total destruction.

The option that aligns with these definitions states that sterilization eliminates all life, disinfection reduces viable organisms on inanimate surfaces, and antisepsis reduces on living tissue. The other statements mix up the targets or outcomes, such as implying disinfection makes surfaces sterile or that antisepsis does nothing.