A sterilization system uses ultraviolet radiation and ozone to eradicate deadly pathogens to sterilize a zone of a surface of an object or wound/incision sites. The sterilization system offers a safe sterilization method prior to or after surgery and/or closure wounds/incisions. The sterilization system has ultraviolet emitters that emit ultraviolet light in wavelengths that kill pathogens and in wavelengths that produce ozone at the sites, therefore killing/disabling several hard-to-kill pathogens. The sterilization system has proximity detectors to enable ultraviolet emission only when the system is properly located near or against the surface so as to protect from unwanted radiation from the ultraviolet light.