Disinfection and/ or sterilisation must always following cleaning for semi-critical and critical reusable medical devices.TrueFalse

Answer: True

Disinfection and sterilization are critical processes in the handling of semi-critical and critical reusable medical devices. Cleaning must always precede these processes to ensure that any organic material, soil, or contaminants are removed from the surfaces of the devices.

1. Cleaning: This is the process of removing dirt, organic material, and debris from the surfaces of medical devices. It is essential because the presence of soil can inhibit the effectiveness of disinfection and sterilization processes.

2. Disinfection: After cleaning, semi-critical devices, which may come into contact with mucous membranes but do not penetrate body tissues, should be disinfected to eliminate most pathogens.

3. Sterilization: Critical devices, which enter sterile tissues or the vascular system, must undergo sterilization to destroy all forms of microbial life.

In summary, without proper cleaning, the efficacy of subsequent disinfection and sterilization is compromised, making the statement true.