Illinois Nail Technician Practice Exam

What is the highest level of decontamination?

1. Sanitization

2. Disinfection

3. Cleansing

4. Sterilization

The correct answer is: Sterilization

The highest level of decontamination is sterilization. Sterilization refers to the complete elimination of all forms of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores from surfaces or equipment. This process is critical in settings where the utmost level of cleanliness is required, such as in medical and surgical environments or when dealing with tools that penetrate the skin, such as those used in nail care. Sanitization, disinfection, and cleansing serve different purposes in decontamination but do not achieve the level of thoroughness that sterilization does. Sanitization reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level, often suitable for public health standards. Disinfection kills a large number of specific pathogens but may not eliminate all spores or resistant organisms. Cleansing involves removing dirt and organic matter, which is a preliminary step in the decontamination process rather than a complete eradication of microbes. Therefore, sterilization stands out as the definitive method to ensure total microbial removal, making it the highest level of decontamination.