Disinfectants are antimicrobial agents that are applied to the surface of non-living objects to destroy microorganisms that are living on the objects.
Disinfection may not kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than sterilization, which is an extreme physical and/or chemical process that kills all types of life.
Bacterial endospores are most resistant to disinfectants,whereas some viruses and bacteria are resistant.
