What practice is used to keep items free of all microbes?

Surgical asepsis is the practice specifically designed to keep items free of all microbes, which includes both pathogens and non-pathogens. This level of asepsis is critical in environments where even a single microorganism could lead to serious infections, such as in surgical procedures or when handling sterile instruments. Techniques employed in surgical asepsis include using sterilization methods and maintaining strict control of the sterile field during medical procedures.

In contrast, medical asepsis refers to practices that reduce the number of infectious agents, but it does not eliminate all microbes. Disinfection, while effective at killing many pathogens on surfaces or instruments, does not necessarily make them completely free of all microbial life. Sanitization is a broader cleaning process aimed at reducing the number of pathogens to safe levels, primarily in public health contexts, but it also does not ensure the complete absence of microbes. Thus, surgical asepsis is the only option that guarantees the total eradication of all microbes, making it the most accurate answer.