Sterilization (or
sterilisation) is a term referring to any process that eliminates (removes) or kills (deactivates) all forms of
life and other
biological agents (such as
prions, as well as
viruses which some do not consider to be alive but are
biological pathogens nonetheless), including transmissible agents (such as
fungi,
bacteria,
viruses,
prions, spore forms,
unicellular eukaryotic organisms such as
Plasmodium, etc.) present in a specified region, such as a surface, a volume of fluid, medication, or in a compound such as biological
culture media. Sterilization can be achieved with one or more of the following:
heat,
chemicals,
irradiation,
high pressure, and
filtration. Sterilization is distinct from
disinfection, sanitization, and
pasteurization in that sterilization kills, deactivates, or eliminates all forms of life and other biological agents.