What is the lowest level of decontamination and infection control?

Sanitation is recognized as the lowest level of decontamination and infection control. It refers to practices that reduce the number of bacteria and microbes on surfaces to a safe level, thereby helping to minimize the chance of spreading infections. In the context of esthetics and other health-related fields, sanitation often involves cleaning surfaces, tools, and equipment to remove dirt, debris, and the majority of microorganisms.

Sanitation is important because it serves as the foundation for higher levels of infection control measures. While disinfection involves using chemicals to eliminate nearly all organisms on a surface, sanitation merely reduces their presence. Therefore, understanding sanitation is crucial in establishing a baseline for cleanliness.

Other practices such as universal precautions enhance safety by treating all bodily fluids as potentially infectious, and hand washing is a fundamental but specific practice aimed at personal hygiene rather than a broad level of decontamination method.