Final answer:
A CMA would use the process of sanitization involving chemical disinfectants to routinely clean and disinfect an examination table, reducing the microbial load to safe levels but not necessarily sterilizing the surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
To routinely clean the examination table, the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) would use the technique of sanitization to disinfect. The process of disinfection is designed to inactivate most microbes on the surface of a fomite by using antimicrobial chemicals or heat. Though disinfection is effective in reducing the microbial load to safe levels, it does not necessarily sterilize an item, as some resilient microbes, such as endospores, may survive.
For practical purposes in a clinical setting, a CMA would typically use a chemical disinfectant to clean an examination table. These chemical disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach or alcohol-based solutions, are capable of destroying most vegetative cells and viruses. Routine cleaning and disinfection are crucial to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases within clinical environments. The high touch surfaces like examination tables require regular disinfection after each patient to maintain a safe and sanitary environment.