Question

When a surface is visibly contaminated with blood, what level of disinfectant should you use?

1) Low-level disinfectant
2) Intermediate-level disinfectant
3) High-level disinfectant
4) Cannot be fixed

Answer 1

An intermediate-level disinfectant is recommended for surfaces visibly contaminated with blood to ensure pathogens are effectively removed and to help prevent the transmission of infections like HBV. Option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a surface is visibly contaminated with blood, an intermediate-level disinfectant should be used. Intermediate-level germicides are capable of killing vegetative cells, fungi, some viruses, but are less effective against endospores. It is crucial to use the correct level of disinfectant to ensure that potential pathogens are adequately removed from surfaces to prevent the spread of infection, especially in a clinical setting.

As blood can be a significant risk for the transmission of infections such as HBV, using the appropriate disinfectant helps in reducing the threat. The CDC recommends a solution such as 10% bleach for disinfection of surfaces that can potentially transmit viruses.