Which term describes the complete destruction of all microorganisms?

The term that describes the complete destruction of all microorganisms is sterilization. This process ensures that not only pathogenic bacteria but also non-pathogenic organisms, spores, and viruses are eliminated from an object's surface or from a given medium. Sterilization is critical in medical and laboratory settings where the presence of any living microorganisms could compromise patient safety or the integrity of experiments.

Other terms, while related to disinfection and cleanliness, do not refer to the complete eradication of all microorganisms. Sanitization refers to lowering the number of microorganisms to a safe level, disinfection involves killing or inactivating most pathogens but may not eliminate spores, and antisepsis refers specifically to the destruction of organisms on living tissue. These terms imply a reduction or control of microorganisms, rather than their total destruction as achieved through sterilization.