Michigan Esthetician State Board Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Success Guide for Your Certification!

Sterilization is defined as a process that completely destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi. This level of microbial control is essential in settings such as medical facilities and salons, where maintaining a sterile environment is crucial to prevent infection and ensure client safety.

The other definitions highlight different levels of microbial control. The first option refers to a process that reduces microbial life, which is known as sanitization. The second option describes disinfection, which kills most harmful organisms but does not guarantee the complete destruction of all microbes. The last option also relates to disinfecting surfaces, which may not necessarily result in total microbial eradication. Therefore, the selection of the definition of sterilization as a process that completely destroys all microbial life underscores its importance in ensuring an environment that is free of any potential pathogens.