What term describes the total destruction of all microorganisms on tools?

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Sterilisation is the process that achieves total destruction of all microorganisms on tools, including bacterial spores, under validated conditions (such as steam under pressure with an autoclave, or other validated sterilants). This level of microbial kill is greater than disinfection, which removes most pathogens but may not eliminate spores, and greater than sanitisation, which only reduces microbial load to a safe level. Decontamination is a broader term that covers cleaning and reducing contaminants, potentially followed by disinfection or sterilisation as needed. So the term describing complete destruction of all microorganisms on tools is sterilisation.