Disinfection eliminates what proportion of microorganisms?

• A. Most microorganisms
• B. All microorganisms
• C. Some viruses only
• D. No microorganisms

Answer: (A)

Disinfection aims to reduce the number of disease-causing microorganisms on inanimate surfaces, eliminating the majority of them but not guaranteeing the destruction of every single microbe. This is why it’s said to remove most microorganisms: it lowers the microbial load to a safe level, but some organisms (like spores or highly resistant viruses) may survive. Sterilization, by contrast, would kill all microorganisms, including spores. So the best answer reflects that disinfection eliminates most microorganisms.