As an RN, you utilize an alcohol-based hand cleaner with friction rub when your hands are not visibly dirty. Which of the following terms appropriately describes the type of antimicrobial control provided by alcohol-based hand cleaners?

A. sterilization

B. disinfection

C. decontamination

D. antisepsis

The correct answer is D. antisepsis

Explanation:

Antiseptics are the antimicrobial compounds that are used on the living tissue to kill or restrict the infection-causing microbes. So the practice of using antiseptic to kill or restrict the growth of infection-causing bacteria on living tissue is called antisepsis.

Some of the antiseptics that are commonly used are iodine, formaldehyde, 70% alcohol, iodine, boric acid, etc. Ignaz Semmelweis was the physician who is known to introduce antisepsis by demonstrating that hand washing can reduce the number of deaths in women who delivered a child recently.

Therefore the correct answer is D. antisepsis.