What is the difference between disinfection and decontamination?

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Disinfection-the elimination of virtually all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects with the exception of large numbers of bacterial endospores, reducing the level of microbial contamination to an acceptably safe level.

Decontamination is any activity that reduces the microbial lode to prevent inadvertent contamination or infection. The appropriateness of a decontaminationprocedure is situational-dependent. For example, surgical instruments must be sterile but this level of microbial killing is unnecessary for environmental surfaces such as floors and walls.