What method is used for thermal disinfection?

Thermal disinfection refers to the process of using heat to eliminate or reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms on medical instruments and equipment. The correct method associated with thermal disinfection is heat, which is often applied through mechanisms such as moist or dry heat.

In particular, steam is widely used as an effective means of heat-based sterilization, though it is specific to sterilization procedures. However, when discussing thermal disinfection in a broader context, heat can refer to any application of elevated temperature, which may also include boiling water or heating in the presence of moisture. This process is effective because high temperatures denature proteins and disrupt cellular structures of microorganisms, leading to their deactivation.

While chemical solutions can also disinfect surfaces and instruments, they do not fall under the category of thermal disinfection. Ultrasound, on the other hand, is primarily used for cleaning and not for disinfection through heat. Thus, heat as the method for thermal disinfection is fundamentally based on the principle that elevated temperatures can effectively destroy or inactivate pathogens.