What is the second step in infection control procedures?

The correct focus in infection control procedures is placed on the sequence of steps that ensure the highest standards of hygiene and safety. The second step in these procedures is disinfecting.

Disinfecting comes after cleaning, which is the first step where visible dirt and debris are removed from surfaces. Cleaning reduces the number of pathogens but does not necessarily kill them. Once the cleaning is done, disinfection follows as a more thorough method aimed specifically at killing a higher percentage of pathogenic microbes. Disinfection is critical in a nail salon environment to minimize the risk of infections, as it effectively reduces the presence of harmful microorganisms on tools and surfaces.

Other methods, such as sanitizing, involve reducing pathogens to safe levels, but they are not as rigorous as disinfection. Similarly, sterilizing is the most extreme form of infection control, intended to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including spores. However, it is not the second step; it is typically reserved for specific situations where absolute sterility is required. Thus, disinfection plays a vital and sequentially appropriate role following cleaning in the overall process of infection control.