Sanitization refers to the cleansing of inanimate objects that may harbor disease causing pathogens. The goal to remove enough microbes to be considered safe for public health. For example, commercial dishwashers used in the food service industry typically sanitize the dishes used by customers. Similarly, surfaces in hospitals are sanitized using a disinfectant to prevent the spread of disease between patients

Sanitization

Sterilization is the completely remove or kill all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses from the item/environment. Sterilization is the most extreme form of microbial control and is typically reserved for lab and medical settings. There are multiple ways to sterilize, either through moist-heat, dry-heat, or sterilants.

Sterilization

Disinfection inactivates most microbes on the surface of a fomite by using antimicrobial chemicals or heat. Some microbes remain, so the disinfected item is not sterile. Disinfectants should be fast acting, stable, easy to prepare, and inexpensive. An example of a natural disinfectant is vinegar; its acidity kills most microbes. Chemical disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach, are used to clean nonliving surfaces such as clinical surfaces. Disinfected surfaces are not considered sterile because endospores can survive even when all the vegetative cells have been killed.

Disinfection

Fomites are inanimate surfaces that can harbor microbes. To control microbial growth on fomites, we can use the following
- -cidal agents
- sterilization
- disinfection
- sanitization
- -static agents

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University of Southern Mississippi

In order to maintain a healthy environment, we needed to develop ways to control microbial growth and reduce the microbial count to safe levels for public health. "Safe levels" depends on the type of environment you are in. A medical setting will require much lower microbial counts than inside our homes, and therefore require higher levels of decontamination

Controlling Microbial Growth

https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology/

Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology’s art program enhances students’ understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs.

Microbiology is produced through a collaborative publishing agreement between OpenStax and the American Society for Microbiology Press. The book aligns with the curriculum guidelines of the American Society for Microbiology.

OpenStax Microbiology Textbook

There anre many ways to control microbial growth. The methods that are considered safe for skin include:
- antiseptics
- degerming


Types of Microbial Control for Living Tissue

Types of Microbial Control for Fomites.

Methods for controlling microbial growth include
- temperature control
- moisture control
- pH control
- chemical control


Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth

static treatments do not actually kill infectious agents, they are often less toxic to humans and other animals, and may also better preserve the integrity of the item treated. Such treatments are typically sufficient to keep the microbial population of an item in check.

-Static

-cide (or -cidal). The prefix indicates the type of microbe or infectious agent killed by the treatment method: bactericides kill bacteria, viricides kill or inactivate viruses, and fungicides kill fungi. 

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