What must be done with surgical instruments before a procedure?

Prior to any surgical procedure, ensuring that surgical instruments are properly sterilized is a critical step. Sterilization eliminates all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, and spores, which is essential for preventing infections during surgery. The integrity and sterility of these instruments are absolutely crucial, as any breach in either could compromise patient safety and outcomes.

While inspecting instruments for damage is an important practice to identify any potential issues that could interfere with their function, it is the sterilization process that directly addresses infection control. Polishing for appearance and displaying instruments for the team, although relevant to maintaining a professional environment, do not impact the patient's safety in the way sterilization does. Therefore, the primary focus before a procedure is to ensure that all surgical instruments are adequately sterilized, making this response essential for promoting safe surgical practices.