New Jersey State Board Esthetics Practice Exam

Which process involves high pressure, heat, or steam?

1. Disinfection

2. Sterilization

3. Sanitization

4. Decontamination

The correct answer is: Sterilization

Sterilization is the process that involves high pressure, heat, or steam to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This method is essential in settings where complete sterility is required, such as in surgical instruments or laboratory environments. The most commonly used sterilization method is autoclaving, where instruments are subjected to high-pressure steam at a specified temperature for a set amount of time, ensuring that all microorganisms are destroyed. Other processes, such as disinfection, sanitization, and decontamination, do not achieve the same level of microbial eradication. Disinfection typically refers to killing or inactivating most pathogenic microorganisms but may not eliminate bacterial spores. Sanitization reduces microbial load to safe levels, often suitable for everyday cleanliness, without achieving complete sterility. Decontamination involves cleaning and disinfecting surfaces to remove harmful substances, which is not necessarily sufficient to ensure sterilization. Thus, the specific use of high pressure, heat, or steam is crucial in defining sterilization.