If an object is not contaminated with pathogens, it can be considered what?

If an object is not contaminated with pathogens, it can be considered clean. Cleanliness refers to the absence of dirt, debris, and microorganisms, including harmful pathogens. A clean object has undergone some form of cleaning process which can involve removing visible dirt and generally reducing the presence of microorganisms to a safe level, but it does not necessarily mean that it is free of all microorganisms.

In contrast, the term sterile indicates that an object has been treated to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, which is a more stringent standard than simply being clean. Disinfection refers to the process of eliminating or reducing harmful microorganisms on inanimate objects, but it does not guarantee the complete absence of all pathogens. Contaminated, on the other hand, means that the object has been exposed to harmful microorganisms, which contradicts the condition stated in the question. Thus, a clean object accurately reflects a state where it is not contaminated with pathogens.