Which of the following terms denotes the absence of infection and microbes?

The term that denotes the absence of infection and microbes is "sterile." Sterility refers to a state in which an object, surface, or environment is free from all living microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This is a critical concept in microbiology, particularly in medical and laboratory settings, where it is essential to maintain sterility to prevent infections, especially during surgical procedures or in the preparation of culture media.

"Contaminated" refers to the presence of unwanted microorganisms, indicating that an item or environment is not free from microbial presence. "Clean" generally implies that visible dirt has been removed, but it does not guarantee that all microorganisms are eliminated. "Aseptic" involves the practices undertaken to prevent contamination by pathogens, but it does not ensure that an object or environment is completely devoid of all microbes. Thus, "sterile" is the only term that definitively indicates that there are no microbes present.