Difference Between Disinfection and Sterilization
Disinfection
- It kills only vegetative cells and not the spores.
- In this, the number of harmful microbes is minimized to a negligible level.
- Wounds are disinfected – with agents such as hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
- Disinfection only reduces the effect of microbes.
- Chemical methods are used for disinfection .
- Phenol, alcohol, chlorine, iodine are some of the disinfecting agents.
- Only adequate cleanliness.
- Used in daily life.
- For eg., pasteurization, disinfecting urinals, etc.
Sterilization
- It kills both vegetative cells and spores.
- In this, the medium is made completely free from all microbes.
- Wounds cannot be sterilized – as it may kill surrounding healthy cells.
- Sterilization completely rids microbes from the surface
- Combination of heat, irradiation, high pressure, chemical and physical methods are used for sterilization
- High temperatures, steam, radiation, filtration are some of the sterilization techniques.
- Extreme cleanliness
- Used primarily for medical and research purposes.
- For eg., sterilization of instruments used during surgery by autoclaving.
Disinfection and sterilization have a few things in common. These include:
- Both are used to decontaminate objects and surfaces
- Both processes can kill (most) harmful microbes.
Read also:
- Difference between Sterilization and Depyrogenation
- Difference Between Aseptic Process and Terminal Sterilization
Resource Person: Ch/Ahmed Mahmoud
