Infection Control and Sanitation
Infection Control and Sanitation tests whether you can prevent transmission of bacteria, fungi, and viruses between clients and protect yourself. Expect questions that compare cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, or ask what to do after an exposure.
The three levels
Cleaning removes visible debris with soap, water, and friction; it does not kill pathogens. Disinfection uses an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant to destroy most pathogens on nonporous surfaces. Sterilization destroys all microbial life, including spores, and is done in an autoclave. UV cabinets and sanitizing sprays do not disinfect implements.
Implements and surfaces
After each client, scrub reusable metal tools, dry them, and immerse them in the correct disinfectant for the label contact time, commonly 10 minutes but always read the label. Rinse and dry before storage. Porous items such as files, buffers, wooden sticks, and cotton are single-use or given to the client. Work surfaces, lamps, and chairs are cleaned and disinfected between clients. Foot spas require draining, cleaning, and disinfecting the basin and screen after each use.
Hands, gloves, and blood
Wash hands before and after every service. Wear gloves when contact with blood or body fluids is likely, and change them between clients. For a blood spill: stop, put on gloves, clean the area, disinfect with a hospital-grade product at the labeled contact time, and dispose of contaminated materials in a biohazard bag. Place sharps in a sharps container. Report the exposure per your employer plan.
Worked example
A metal nipper falls onto the floor. Reasoning: the floor is contaminated. Pick it up with a tissue or gloved hand, remove visible debris, clean with soap and water, dry, then fully immerse it in hospital-grade disinfectant for the labeled time. Do not wipe it with alcohol and return it to the tray.
Traps
Topping off disinfectant, skipping contact time, treating UV light as disinfection, reusing porous files, and wearing the same gloves for two clients are common errors. Keep an SDS for every product and a disinfection log where required.