The Difference Between Sterilization & Disinfection

"Cleaning" is a word sometimes used to mean the removal of extraneous things and sometimes the removal of organic matter and bacteria. Sanitation, antisepsis, disinfection and sterilization each have important distinctions. Sterilization and disinfection live on the continuum of antisepsis. Sterilization is the complete killing of organic pathogens and microbes; disinfection is the removal of some or the majority of organic pathogens.

Sanitation

• An important word in the lexicon of "clean," sanitation refers to the disposal of not just garbage, but specifically the hygienic removal of organic and human waste. Sanitation isn't limited to excrement but any organic material. Antisepsis, disinfection and sterilization all fall under the broad umbrella of "sanitation."

Antisepsis

• Antisepsis is similar to "sanitation" in meaning but it refers specifically to pathogens and not the organic matter that breeds pathogens. Sanitation can be antisepsis and antisepsis can be sanitation, but antisepsis focuses on the prevention of infection by pathogens --- living organisms --- and "sanitation" focuses on the organic matter that may not be living, but derived from living things.

Disinfection

• Of these four terms, "disinfection" is closest in meaning to "antisepsis." They are very similar in meaning and often used synonymously. In a technical environment, it's important to note that "disinfection" is the actual process or act of killing organic pathogens and "antisepsis" focuses more on the prevention of organic pathogens.

Sterilization

• Sterilization is a relatively simple distinction. Sterilization kills all organic pathogens. Generally, sanitation discourages breeding grounds for organic pathogens; antisepsis prevents organic pathogens; disinfection is the process of eliminating organic pathogens; and sterilization is the complete elimination of all living microorganisms, including organic pathogens.