To ensure that all microorganisms on an item are killed, what process should be used?

The correct process to ensure that all microorganisms on an item are completely killed is sterilization. Sterilization is a rigorous method that involves either physical or chemical processes to remove or destroy all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi. This is crucial in medical and healthcare settings where the risk of infection needs to be minimized, such as in surgical instruments or any equipment that may come into contact with sterile tissue.

While cleaning with strong detergents and washing in hot water can significantly reduce the number of microorganisms, these methods do not guarantee complete destruction of all microorganisms, particularly resilient spores. Disinfection is also an important process that aims to reduce the number of pathogens to a safe level but, like cleaning and washing, does not ensure total eradication. Thus, for total assurance that no microorganisms remain, sterilization is the definitive choice.