Medical Device Reprocessing Association of Ontario (MDRAO) Practice Exam

Disinfectants play a crucial role in medical device reprocessing by significantly reducing the number of microorganisms present on the surface of instruments and killing pathogens that could lead to infections. The primary purpose of utilizing disinfectants is to ensure that medical devices are safe for use on patients, especially those that will come into contact with broken skin or mucous membranes. While it would be ideal to eliminate all types of microorganisms, including spores, this falls under the more rigorous process of sterilization, which goes beyond what disinfectants achieve. Disinfectants primarily reduce microbial load rather than ensuring complete eradication, particularly of resilient spores. Corrosion prevention and aesthetic enhancement, while important for the maintenance and presentation of instruments, do not align with the primary purpose of disinfectants in the context of reprocessing. The focus here is on effective infection control, making the reduction of microorganisms and killing of pathogens the essential function of disinfectants in the reprocessing workflow.