Final answer:
A nonsterile dressing is clean, meaning it is free from dirt but not necessarily free from all microorganisms (Option D).
Step-by-step explanation:
A nonsterile dressing is one that is considered to be Clean. This means that while it may not have been sterilized to remove all forms of microbial life, it is free from dirt and has not been contaminated. Sterility requires the elimination of all microorganisms, including spores, which is not necessarily the case with a clean, nonsterile dressing.
When it comes to microbial control to prevent infection on tissues, the correct choice is an antiseptic. Antiseptics are suitable because they are antimicrobial substances that can be applied to living tissues to reduce the risk of infection.
An item that comes into contact with intact skin but does not penetrate sterile tissues or come into contact with mucous membranes is referred to as a noncritical item. Noncritical items require cleaning to ensure that they are free from contaminants but do not necessarily need to be sterile.
The types of medical items that require sterilization are those that are considered critical, such as surgical instruments, which come into contact with sterile tissues or the bloodstream.
Thus, the correct option is D.