Instruments that are touched by ungloved hands are

Instruments that are touched by ungloved hands are

• A. Clean
• B. Sterile
• C. Decontaminated
• D. Contaminated

Answer: (D)

Touching sterile instruments with ungloved hands breaches asepsis. Sterility means the item has no viable microorganisms; clean means free of visible soil; decontaminated means processed to remove most contaminants, but not necessarily sterile. Once bare-handed contact occurs, the instrument is no longer sterile or clean—it's contaminated. It must be decontaminated and reprocessed (cleaned and sterilized) before use.

Touching sterile instruments with ungloved hands breaches asepsis. Sterility means the item has no viable microorganisms; clean means free of visible soil; decontaminated means processed to remove most contaminants, but not necessarily sterile. Once bare-handed contact occurs, the instrument is no longer sterile or clean—it's contaminated. It must be decontaminated and reprocessed (cleaned and sterilized) before use.