Any implements that pierce the skin must be?

Any implements that pierce the skin must be sterilized to ensure that all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, are completely eliminated. Sterilization is a crucial process in any setting where the skin barrier is breached, as it prevents the risk of infection and cross-contamination to the client and the technician.

Sterilization involves the use of methods such as autoclaving, which uses high-pressure steam to achieve the highest level of cleanliness. This contrasts with disinfection, which may kill many types of microbes but does not eliminate all spores, or simply sanitizing, which reduces pathogens to a safe level but does not ensure complete destruction. Wiping down implements would not adequately address the concerns associated with any item that punctures the skin, thus making sterilization the only suitable option when dealing with tools that engage in invasive procedures.