Final answer:
The highest level of decontamination used for implements in salons is sterilization, which completely removes or kills all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses. In contrast, disinfectants and antiseptics are used on non-living surfaces and living tissues, respectively, to reduce microbial load without complete elimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The highest level of decontamination used for implements in salons is sterilization. This process achieves the complete removal or killing of all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses from the targeted item or environment. Sterilization can be realized through physical means such as high heat and pressure, or chemical means using sterilants.
Difference Between Disinfectants and Antiseptics
Disinfectants are used for the removal of potential pathogens from non-living objects or surfaces, termed fomites. On the other hand, antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue to reduce the chance of infection. While disinfectants reduce the microbial load on objects, antiseptics do the same for tissue without causing harm.
Effectiveness of Microbial Control Methods
The most effective method at removing microbes from a product is sterilization as it completely eliminates all forms of microbial life, while sanitization and degerming simply reduce the number of microbes.
The Role of Sterilization in Microbial Control
Sterilization is a crucial protocol in environments such as medical and laboratory settings where it's imperative for certain items to be entirely free of potentially infectious agents. For clinical items that come into contact with sterile tissues, high-level sterilization is required.