Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting: What Every Medical Office Manager Needs to Know In a medical setting, "clean" isn't just a visual standard — it's a critical safety measure. For patients entering a waiting room or treatment area, the assumption is that the environment is safe. However, preventing the spread of infection requires more than just a quick wipe-down. It requires a strategic approach to hygiene that distinguishes between two vital processes: sanitizing and disinfecting