Final answer:
Work areas should be cleaned and disinfected with soap and water, bleach solution, or alcohol-based disinfectant before and after client services. The effectiveness of these disinfectants depends on the situation, and personal protective equipment is essential for handling contaminated items. Alcohols, especially at around 70% concentration, are effective for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before and after client services, work areas should be cleaned and properly disinfected using soap and water, a bleach solution, or an alcohol-based disinfectant. The choice of disinfectant depends on the type of surface and the particular pathogens present. For example, for general cleaning, soap and water can be effective. Where a stronger disinfectant is required, such as for bloodborne pathogens, a bleach solution may be used. Alcohol-based disinfectants are particularly effective in denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, functioning best at a concentration of about 70%. It should be noted that alcohols work better in aqueous solutions rather than at 100% concentration. In addition to being used for cleaning work areas, alcohols like ethanol and isopropanol are commonly used for disinfecting forceps, spreaders, and other laboratory instruments.
Chemical disinfectants like phenol, formaldehyde, and bleach have been historically used to measure the effectiveness of disinfection, with benefits of alcohols including their rapid action and lower toxicity compared to some other chemicals. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as protective coats, face protection, and cut-resistant gloves must also be used by personnel handling contaminated items to reduce the risk of infection. Contaminated waste management requires proper procedures like incineration or autoclaving.