What does it mean for an item to be 'porous,' and why does it matter for infection control?

A porous item has tiny openings or absorbs liquids and materials (like emery boards, buffers, wooden sticks, and some foam), which means pathogens can become embedded and the item cannot be reliably cleaned and disinfected. For that reason, porous items are generally treated as single-use and discarded after one client. Nonporous items (metal, glass, hard plastic) have smooth, sealed surfaces that can be properly cleaned and disinfected for reuse. Distinguishing porous from nonporous determines whether a tool is disposable or reusable.