Which of the following best describes the prion decontamination approach in mortuary practice?

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Prions are extraordinarily resistant infectious proteins that can linger on surfaces and instruments, so decontamination in mortuary practice must be thorough and validated. The best approach combines using dedicated instruments to avoid cross-contamination with a validated decontamination protocol that includes a chemical treatment and an extended heat/sterilization step, plus waste handling that follows established guidelines. Chemical decontamination employs strong oxidizers or alkaline cleaners with sufficient contact time to inactivate prions, and is typically followed by autoclaving at high temperature for an extended period. Proper waste management ensures prion-contaminated materials are disposed of safely according to guidelines. This is essential because standard EPA-registered surface disinfectants alone, or cleaning with water only, are not reliably effective against prions.