What must be completed prior to disinfection or sterilization?

The correct answer is cleaning with soap and water. Prior to disinfection or sterilization processes, it is essential to remove dirt, debris, and any organic material from surfaces and instruments. Cleaning effectively reduces the bioburden, which refers to the number of microorganisms present. When surfaces or instruments are not properly cleaned, disinfectants and sterilants may not be able to penetrate effectively or act on the remaining contaminants, resulting in inadequate disinfection or sterilization.

Immediate disinfection refers to a practice that might occur after cleaning, but it does not replace the need for thorough cleaning first. Drying surfaces is important after cleaning and prior to applying disinfectants or sterilants, but it cannot substitute for the cleaning process itself. Wiping with alcohol can be part of the disinfection process, but without the fundamental cleaning stage, it may not be effective. Therefore, cleaning with soap and water is a necessary step to ensure that surfaces and instruments are ready for the subsequent disinfection or sterilization.