How is thermal disinfection achieved?

Thermal disinfection is achieved through the application of heat to effectively kill or inactivate microorganisms. This process relies on specific temperatures and exposure times to ensure that pathogens are destroyed without causing damage to the items being disinfected. The use of heat significantly impacts the proteins and enzymes within the microorganisms, thereby leading to their destruction.

When considering the other options, heated chemicals and heated glutaraldehyde refer to chemical methods of disinfection, which do not fall under the classification of thermal disinfection. Prolonged high-pressure steam is associated with sterilization, not disinfection, as it focuses on achieving a complete elimination of all forms of microbial life, including spores. Therefore, while these methods are valuable in reprocessing medical instruments, they do not directly define the process of thermal disinfection, which is specifically centered around applying heat as a means of microbial control.