What does disinfection primarily aim to eliminate?

Disinfection primarily aims to eliminate pathogens, which are microorganisms that can cause disease. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that may lead to infections if introduced into a susceptible host. The goal of disinfection is to reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms to a level that is not harmful to health, particularly in environments such as healthcare facilities where the risk of infection is high.

Normal flora refers to the beneficial microorganisms that naturally inhabit the body and are important for maintaining health. Disinfection does not aim to eliminate these beneficial microbes, as doing so could disrupt the balance of the microbiome and potentially lead to other health issues.

While disinfection is effective against many types of microorganisms, it does not specifically target all bacteria or only viruses. Instead, its focus is on reducing harmful pathogens to diminish the likelihood of infection without necessarily eradicating all forms of microbial life.