Final answer:
Items used in sterile environments, such as medical instruments, must be cleaned with a disinfectant solution and autoclaved before reuse. Antiseptics are used on living tissues to prevent infection, while disinfectants are intended for non-living objects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medical items that come into contact with sterile tissues or are used in surgical procedures must be cleaned with a disinfectant solution and autoclaved before reuse, to ensure complete sterilization. The autoclave uses pressurized steam to kill all microorganisms, including heat-resistant endospores, making the items safe for use in clinical settings and surgeries.
As for a substance suitable for microbial control on tissues to prevent infection, the correct choice would be antiseptic. Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissues/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction. They differ from disinfectants, which are used on non-living objects. Some chemicals can act as both an antiseptic and a disinfectant, depending on their concentration and application.