Final answer:
To disinfect soiled surgical instruments, a medical assistant should first remove visible debris, rinse with cold water, then clean with a soapy water solution before sterilizing in an autoclave.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disinfection process for soiled surgical instruments typically begins with the removal of visible debris and then cleaning the instruments with a disinfectant. As a medical assistant, you would not autoclave instruments immediately, as high temperatures can cause proteins in organic material to coagulate, making them more difficult to remove. Instead, instruments should first be rinsed with cold water to remove any loose organic matter, followed by soaking in enzymatic soapy water which can break down organic material. Only after thoroughly cleaning should the instruments be autoclaved for complete sterilization.