What are the differences between disinfection and sterilization?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Disinfection

Sterilization

Definition

Is a process used to reduce the number of harmful microbes to negligible levels

Is a process used to kill all harmful microbes and maintain a sterile environment

Methods used

Uses chemical methods

Uses a combination of heat, high pressure, irradiation, physical and chemical methods

Effect on microbes

Kills only vegetative cells and not the spores, thus only reducing the effect of microbes

Kills both vegetative cells and spores, completely ridding microbes from the surface

Cleanliness factor

Adequately clean

Extremely clean

Techniques used

- Alcohols
- Phenol
- Chlorine
- Iodine 
- Oxidizing agents
- UV light

- High temperatures
- Radiation
- Steam
- Filtration
- Radiation

Applications

Used in daily life in applications such as pasteurization and disinfecting bathrooms

Used primarily for medical and research purposes such as sterilizing surgical and laboratory instruments

Use on wounds

Wounds can be disinfected using agents such as hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol

Wounds cannot be sterilized as surrounding healthy cells may also get killed in the process

Basis of differentiation	Disinfection	Sterilization
Definition	Is a process used to reduce the number of harmful microbes to negligible levels	Is a process used to kill all harmful microbes and maintain a sterile environment
Methods used	Uses chemical methods	Uses a combination of heat, high pressure, irradiation, physical and chemical methods
Effect on microbes	Kills only vegetative cells and not the spores, thus only reducing the effect of microbes	Kills both vegetative cells and spores, completely ridding microbes from the surface
Cleanliness factor	Adequately clean	Extremely clean
Techniques used	Alcohols Phenol Chlorine Iodine Oxidizing agents UV light	High temperatures Radiation Steam Filtration Radiation
Applications	Used in daily life in applications such as pasteurization and disinfecting bathrooms	Used primarily for medical and research purposes such as sterilizing surgical and laboratory instruments
Use on wounds	Wounds can be disinfected using agents such as hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol	Wounds cannot be sterilized as surrounding healthy cells may also get killed in the process