DecontaminationQuestion 28 of 100
During a competency review, a technician is asked to explain why cleaning is considered the single most important step in instrument reprocessing. Which answer is correct?
a.Cleaning removes the need for a chemical indicator inside the package
b.Cleaning is what actually kills the spores present on the instrument
c.Cleaning is required only for instruments that will be used on sterile tissue
d.Residual soil shields microorganisms from the sterilant, so an item that is not clean cannot be reliably sterilized
Explanation
Blood, tissue, and biofilm form a physical barrier that sterilant cannot penetrate, so any organism protected under residual soil may survive a technically correct sterilization cycle. Cleaning itself does not kill spores; it removes and reduces bioburden so the sterilant can work. Indicators monitor the process and cannot compensate for poor cleaning, and every reusable device requires cleaning regardless of its Spaulding classification.
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