Which process is defined as completely removing all organisms?

The process defined as completely removing all organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, is known as sterilization. Sterilization is a critical concept in healthcare and laboratory settings, employed to ensure that instruments and materials are free of any viable microorganisms. This is particularly important in interventional radiology, where the risk of infection must be minimized to protect patients undergoing procedures.

Sterilization can be achieved through various methods, including steam sterilization (autoclaving), ethylene oxide gas, or radiation. The key characteristic of sterilization is that it eliminates all forms of microbial life, not just the harmful ones, which is essential for any tools or devices that will come into contact with sterile body areas or fluids.

In contrast, aseptic technique refers to practices that prevent contamination, while disinfection reduces the number of pathogens but does not eliminate all microorganisms. Sanitization involves lowering the microbial counts to safe levels as defined by public health standards, but it does not reach the complete sterility that sterilization provides. Thus, the distinction between these processes highlights the importance of fully understanding sterilization as the highest level of microbial control.