Final answer:
Sterilization is the decontamination procedure that kills spores and can be achieved through high heat, pressure, and the use of chemical sterilants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decontamination procedure that kills spores is known as sterilization. This is achieved through protocols designed to completely remove or kill all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses from the targeted item or environment.
Sterilization can be accomplished using physical means, such as exposure to high heat and pressure, or chemical means, with chemicals called sterilants. In contrast, disinfection does not lead to sterilization as endospores tend to survive these processes.
An example of a physical method of sterilization is autoclaving, which uses pressurized steam to achieve high enough temperatures to kill microorganisms, including endospores.
Chemical sterilants also exist and are used for sterilization purposes, but the choice of method depends on various factors, such as the nature of the item being sterilized and the environment in which sterilization is taking place.