What is a common misconception about High Level Disinfection?

High Level Disinfection (HLD) is often misunderstood, with one of the most common misconceptions being that it is equivalent to sterilization. In reality, HLD is a process that significantly reduces the number of viable microorganisms on the surface of instruments, but it does not necessarily eliminate all forms of microbial life, particularly bacterial spores. Sterilization, on the other hand, is the process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life, including spores. This distinction is crucial in infection control practices, as sterilization is reserved for instruments that must be completely free of all pathogens, such as surgical tools, whereas HLD is sufficient for instruments that come into contact with mucous membranes but do not penetrate bodily tissues. Understanding this difference helps healthcare professionals choose the appropriate method for reprocessing medical instruments based on their intended use.