Sterilization is a vital process across multiple industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, the food sector, and scientific research. It involves the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, and prions, from objects, instruments, or environments. Achieving effective sterilization is critical for preventing infections, avoiding contamination, and ensuring the accuracy and safety of clinical and experimental procedures. The chapter also outlines the criteria for selecting appropriate sterilization techniques based on factors such as the type of material being sterilized, the characteristics of the microbial contaminants, and the specific requirements of microbiological practices.
Current chapter covers several sterilization methods including physical, chemical and radiation. This chapter describes some of the sterilization techniques and how they could be useful in different microbiological practices.