Final answer:
A medical assistant must wear gloves, use a disinfectant solution, and dispose of waste properly in a biohazard container when cleaning surgical instruments, followed by thorough hand washing and sterilization procedures like autoclaving.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a medical assistant is washing infectious debris off sharp surgical instruments, the appropriate actions should include wearing personal protective equipment such as cut-resistant gloves to prevent injury and infection, using a disinfectant solution designed for clean up of biological materials to ensure the proper sterilization of the instruments, and disposing of any infectious waste properly in a biohazard container. It is important that a clean cloth is used if wiping down instruments to avoid cross-contamination. Additionally, all medical personnel must adhere to strict hand hygiene protocols, washing hands thoroughly after handling contaminated items and before any surgical procedures to prevent the spread of pathogens.
After initial cleaning, instruments must be sterilized, which can usually be done through methods such as autoclaving. Notably, each step is crucial to maintain a sterile environment and to prevent the spread of infections in a medical setting.