It is vital that all surfaces that contact a client are __________.

• A. Left alone
• B. Thoroughly cleaned, especially if someone sneezes or coughs on them
• C. Painted
• D. Disinfected without cleaning

Answer: (B)

Surfaces that touch a client must be thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt and organic matter, which lowers the microbial load and prepares the surface for effective disinfection. When someone sneezes or coughs, droplets can carry germs onto those surfaces, so cleaning is essential to physically remove these contaminants before applying a disinfectant. Disinfection alone on a dirty surface is less reliable because organic material can shield microbes and reduce the disinfectant’s effectiveness. Painting the surface doesn’t address cleanliness or disinfection, and leaving surfaces alone would allow germs to persist. So the best practice is to clean first, especially after exposure to respiratory droplets, and then disinfect as appropriate.