How is sterilization different from disinfection and can you explain the distinction between the two processes?

Sterilization is the process of completely eliminating all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, from an object or surface. Disinfection, on the other hand, is the process of reducing the number of harmful microorganisms to a safe level, but not necessarily eliminating all of them. The main distinction between the two processes is the level of microbial elimination achieved - sterilization completely removes all microorganisms, while disinfection reduces their numbers to a safe level.