What is the effectiveness of hot water in sterilization?

Hot water is effective only as a sanitizer because it can significantly reduce the number of microorganisms on surfaces, but it does not achieve the high levels of sterilization that are necessary to destroy all forms of microbial life, including spores. The temperatures typically reached by hot water during sanitization processes are not sufficient to ensure complete destruction of all pathogens.

In comparison, effective sterilization usually involves higher temperatures, often above boiling, or methods like autoclaving, which combines high-pressure steam and heat. Sanitization with hot water can still be important in laboratory settings for cleaning purposes, but there are limitations to its effectiveness when it comes to achieving sterilization, particularly regarding endospores.

The other options suggest incorrect scenarios regarding the use of hot water in sterilization contexts, whether relating to its effectiveness on its own or in combination with other substances, which misrepresents the role that hot water plays in infection control practices.