Final answer:
To sterilize a vaginal speculum, a medical assistant should use moist-heat sterilization with an autoclave, which is effective in eliminating all forms of microbial life including endospores.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sterilization Technique for a Vaginal Speculum
A medical assistant preparing to sterilize a vaginal speculum should use a sterilization technique that is capable of eliminating all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses to maintain aseptic technique in the clinical setting. The recommended method for sterilizing such medical equipment is moist-heat sterilization, commonly achieved through the use of an autoclave. An autoclave applies both high heat and pressure to ensure thorough sterilization, which is more effective than dry-heat sterilization because it penetrates cells better. This process is essential to ensure the safety of patients and the prevention of infections, such as sepsis, associated with medical procedures like a Pap smear, in which the speculum is used.