What is the practice called that aims to remove or destroy pathogens to prevent their spread?

The practice that aims to remove or destroy pathogens to prevent their spread is referred to as medical asepsis. This term encompasses a variety of techniques focused on maintaining cleanliness and reducing the number of pathogens in the environment, especially in healthcare settings. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, and proper cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces and equipment. Its primary goal is to create a safe environment that minimizes the likelihood of infection transmission.

While surgical asepsis is a more stringent practice used primarily in operating rooms and during invasive procedures to achieve a completely sterile environment, medical asepsis addresses the need to control infectious agents in a broader context. Contamination refers to the introduction of pathogens into a clean environment, which is contrary to the principles of aseptic practice. Disinfection is a process involved in medical asepsis but focused specifically on killing or inactivating pathogens on surfaces or instruments rather than the entire practice of preventing the spread of infection. Hence, medical asepsis is the most comprehensive term for practices aimed at controlling pathogens in a healthcare setting.