Sanitation is the lowest level of infection control.

• A. Highest level
• B. Mid-level
• C. Lowest level
• D. Not part of infection control

Answer: (C)

Infection-control practices build from cleaning to more advanced procedures. Sanitation is the foundational step that cleans surfaces and tools to remove dirt and reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level. It doesn’t kill every pathogen or spores, but it lowers risk enough for everyday use. That’s why it’s considered the lowest level in the hierarchy of infection control.

Disinfection goes beyond sanitation by using chemical agents to kill most or all pathogens on inanimate surfaces, while sterilization is the most intensive level, destroying all microorganisms including spores and is used for instruments that enter sterile tissues. In a salon setting, you’d typically sanitize for general cleanliness, apply disinfection where there’s a higher exposure risk, and reserve sterilization for tools that penetrate skin or enter sterile areas.

So, the statement that sanitation is the lowest level of infection control is correct.