Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Practice Test 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The key distinction between disinfection and sterilization lies in the level of microbial reduction achieved by each process. Disinfection is aimed at reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms to a level that is considered safe, particularly on inanimate surfaces or instruments. In contrast, sterilization is the complete elimination of all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores.

This complete elimination is crucial in medical and surgical settings where instruments must be free from any viable organisms to prevent infections. Therefore, while disinfection is effective in reducing the risk of infection by lowering the number of pathogens, it does not guarantee that all microorganisms are destroyed. Sterilization, on the other hand, ensures that all microbiological agents are eradicated, thus providing a higher level of safety and assurance in controlling infections.

This understanding is essential in healthcare, where different procedures and instruments require varying levels of microbial control to ensure patient safety.