What does disinfection remove?

Disinfection is a process aimed at eliminating most pathogenic microorganisms from surfaces or objects, but it does not fully eradicate all forms of microbial life, particularly bacterial spores. Bacterial spores are exceptionally resilient and can survive various environmental conditions; thus, they typically require a higher level of sterilization for complete removal. Disinfection focuses on reducing the number of viable pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk of infection, making it suitable for use on inanimate surfaces in healthcare settings. This understanding helps highlight the important distinction between disinfection, which targets most pathogens, and sterilization, which aims to destroy all forms of microbial life.