Sterilization

(ster-il-i-za’ ’-shun) \_sterilis, barren]. The act of rendering anything sterile; the destruction of microorganisms, particularly by means of heat. S., Intermittent, a method of sterilization in which an interval of time is allowed to elapse between the several heatings, giving an opportunity for any spores present to develop into adult microorganisms, in which form they readily succumb to the action of heat. 599