What is the term for using heat to kill all microorganisms, except spores?

The correct term for using heat to kill all microorganisms, except spores, is thermal disinfection. This process involves using high temperatures for a predetermined duration to achieve a significant reduction of pathogens. It is essential in the medical and healthcare fields to ensure that instruments and surfaces are safe for use without the presence of harmful microorganisms, albeit it does not eliminate bacterial spores, which are more resistant to heat.

Sterilization refers to a process that destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores, making it more comprehensive than thermal disinfection. High-level disinfection typically implies the use of chemical agents to eliminate all microorganisms, except large numbers of bacterial spores and does not focus solely on heat. Mechanical disinfection, on the other hand, is not a standard term in the context of disinfection processes and generally refers to physical cleaning methods rather than a specific disinfection technique.