Which of the following terms describes the method that completely destroys microorganisms?

The term that describes the method that completely destroys microorganisms is sterilization. This process is designed to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. Sterilization is critical in healthcare settings to ensure that instruments and surfaces are free from potentially harmful pathogens that could cause infections.

In contrast, disinfection refers to the process that reduces the number of microorganisms to a level that is not harmful, but does not necessarily kill all organisms or spores. Sanitization is similar to disinfection, functioning primarily to lower microbial counts on surfaces to safe levels, which is especially important in food service and sanitation settings. Antisepsis involves applying antimicrobial substances to living tissues to prevent infection, rather than destroying microorganisms completely. Each of these terms relates to controlling microbial life, but only sterilization achieves total destruction.