What represents the lowest level of infection control?

The concept of infection control is crucial in the field of skincare and esthetics, as it ensures the safety and health of both clients and practitioners. When examining the levels of infection control, cleaning is recognized as the lowest level of infection control.

Cleaning involves the removal of dirt, debris, and organic matter from surfaces and equipment. This process often utilizes soap and water or other cleaning agents to physically break down and wash away contaminants. While cleaning reduces the number of germs, it does not kill them, which means that some bacteria, viruses, and fungi may still remain on surfaces after this process.

In contrast, other methods such as sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization represent higher levels of infection control. Sanitization reduces the number of germs to safe levels, disinfection kills a high percentage of pathogens but not all, and sterilization completely eliminates all forms of microbial life, including spores. Since cleaning does not involve killing germs and is primarily focused on removal, it is classified as the lowest level of infection control, making it a critical foundation that must be followed before proceeding to higher levels of infection control methods like disinfection or sterilization.