Final answer:
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is the organization that establishes sterilization practice standards based on opinion, research, and theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organization that establishes sterilization practice standards based on opinion, research, and/or theory is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The CDC, along with other organizations such as the WHO and FDA, sets protocols for the sterilization of medical equipment and implements guidelines that are adopted by medical equipment manufacturers. Moreover, the CDC provides guidelines for different levels of cleanliness required for various medical items, depending on their risk of infection.