Infection Control & SafetyQuestion 62 of 100
Which statement correctly distinguishes medical asepsis from surgical asepsis?
a.Medical asepsis destroys all microorganisms and spores, while surgical asepsis only reduces them
b.The two terms mean exactly the same thing
c.Medical asepsis is used only in operating rooms
d.Medical asepsis reduces the number of microorganisms, while surgical asepsis removes all microorganisms and spores from an object or area
Explanation
Medical asepsis, or clean technique, reduces the number and spread of pathogens through handwashing, gloves, and disinfection, while surgical asepsis, or sterile technique, eliminates all microorganisms including spores. The definitions are not interchangeable, and reversing them describes the opposite practice. Medical asepsis is used throughout the clinic, not only in surgical settings.
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