Which of the following defines the process of sterilization?

The process of sterilization is defined as killing all pathogenic organisms and spores. This is a critical aspect of infection control and ensures that all forms of microbial life, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and their spores, are completely eradicated. Sterilization is particularly important in medical and surgical settings where the presence of any living microorganism could lead to infections or complications.

Other processes like disinfection and sanitization, while important, target different levels of microbial control. For instance, disinfecting surfaces aims to eliminate harmful microorganisms but does not necessarily kill all spores, which are resistant forms of bacteria. Reducing the number of pathogens to a safe level is related to sanitization practices, which help make environments safe but do not achieve the full sterility that sterilization guarantees. Additionally, while heat can be used in sterilization, simply separating bacteria from specimens does not pertain to the full scope or intent of sterilization procedures.