No-touch decontamination: which statement is true regarding its use on environmental surfaces?

• A. Patients in rooms of previously infected individuals are at risk after use
• B. Surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected with UV light before use
• C. Surfaces must be cleaned before and after use
• D. Surfaces must be cleaned before use

Answer: (D)

No-touch decontamination works best when surfaces have been cleaned first. Cleaning removes soil and organic matter that can shield microbes, making UV-C or vapor-based decontamination more effective at inactivating remaining organisms. So, the correct practice is to clean surfaces before applying the no-touch method and then reoccupy the room once decontamination is complete. The other statements misstate the sequence or requirements—for example, relying on UV disinfection before use, or cleaning after use, which isn’t the standard workflow.