What term describes the process of killing infectious agents outside the body?

The term that describes the process of killing infectious agents outside the body is indeed disinfection. Disinfection involves the use of chemical agents or physical methods to eliminate most pathogenic microorganisms, with the exception of large numbers of resistant bacterial spores. This process is essential in various settings, such as hospitals, laboratories, and homes, to reduce the risk of infection.

Disinfection typically targets specific harmful organisms, making it an effective measure for managing contamination on surfaces and in materials. It is not as thorough as sterilization, which refers to the complete elimination of all microorganisms, including spores. While sanitization refers to reducing microbial levels to safe levels according to health standards, and decontamination involves the broader process of cleaning and removing contaminants (which may include disinfection or sterilization), the precise action of killing infectious agents aligns specifically with disinfection. Thus, in the context of managing health risks related to infectious agents outside the body, disinfection is the most accurate term.