What should be the condition of a sterile instrument prior to use?

For a sterile instrument to be suitable for use, it must be free of all microbes. Sterility refers to the complete absence of all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, and spores. This level of cleanliness is crucial in healthcare settings to prevent infections and ensure patient safety during procedures, particularly surgical interventions or invasive examinations.

Using sterile instruments helps to maintain a controlled environment where the risk of introducing pathogens into the body is minimized. This is why specific sterilization processes, such as autoclaving, are utilized in medical facilities to achieve this level of sterility.

In contrast, contaminated instruments harbor microbes and pose a significant risk of infection. Disinfected instruments, while reduced in microbial life, may still harbor some pathogens and are not necessarily considered sterile. Antiseptic refers to substances that can be applied to the skin or living tissues to reduce microbial presence but does not imply that an object or surface is sterile.

Therefore, for safe and effective performance in a clinical setting, a sterile instrument must indeed be free of all microbes.