Final answer:
The term "sanitizer" in the provided context refers to a chemical cleaning solution for surfaces, used to reduce microbial levels on fomites to safe public health levels(option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context provided, the term "sanitizer" refers to a cleaning solution for surfaces (option a). Sanitizers are important for reducing microbe levels on fomites such as dishes, countertops, and other surfaces to safe levels for public health. For example, in hospital settings, surfaces are commonly sanitized with chemical disinfectants to prevent the transmission of diseases between patients. In contrast, when referring to the control of microbes on living tissues to prevent infection, an antiseptic—not a sanitizer—would be used, as indicated by the inclusion of hand sanitizers alongside other antiseptics like mouthwash in test samples.
The act of handwashing is another essential practice for health care workers to reduce the transmission of pathogenic microbes. The use of proper surgical attire and thorough scrubbing is a more intensive form of handwashing known as surgical scrubbing, used to minimize the risk of transmitting microbes into a patient's surgical wounds.