Final answer:
The process of removing debris from medical instruments is called sanitation, which aims to reduce microbes to safe levels, distinct from sterilization that eradicates all microbes, and disinfection, which reduces many but not all pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cleansing process used to remove debris such as blood, tissue, and other body fluids from medical instruments or equipment is known as sanitation. This process ensures that instruments achieve a level of cleanliness that is safe for handling and use in various settings, particularly within the health care environment. The goal of sanitation is to reduce the microbial load to levels deemed safe for public health. This is not to be confused with sterilization, which aims for the complete removal or killing of all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses. Sterilization is often required for critical items that will enter sterile areas of the body. In contrast, disinfection reduces the number of potential pathogens, but not necessarily all types of microbes, as it does not kill high levels of bacterial spores; disinfection is suitable for semicritical items. Lastly, antisepsis is the use of antimicrobial substances on living tissues to reduce the risk of infection, which differs from the disinfection of inanimate objects.