Final answer:
The term described by AAMI as the removal of contamination to the extent necessary for further processing or intended use is known as sanitization. This process is essential in healthcare and food service industries to ensure items are safe and to prevent disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), "The removal of contamination from an item to the extent necessary for further processing or for the intended use" defines sanitization. Sanitization is key to controlling the spread of microbes and preventing disease, particularly in healthcare settings. This process reduces or destroys the microbial load of an inanimate item through the application of heat or antimicrobial chemicals. For instance, dishes in the food service industry are sanitized using high-temperature water, effectively killing most microbes. Similarly, hospital room surfaces are often sanitized with chemical disinfectants to forestall the transmission of diseases between patients. Sterilization, a more extreme measure, refers to the complete annihilation of all microbial life, including hardy endospores and viruses, through physical or chemical means.
It is essential to remove added contaminants from various items to ensure they are safe for consumption or use. Depending on the item's intended application, different degrees of cleanliness are necessary, as with noncritical items that only contact intact skin, as opposed to critical items that require a sterile condition due to contact with sterile tissues.