What is the Spaulding Classification System

The Spaulding classification, originally proposed in 1957, is a widely used system for matching the disinfection and sterilization of surfaces, particularly those of re-usable medical/surgical devices, with available processes.

What are the 3 levels of disinfection?

There are three levels of disinfection: high, intermediate, and low. The high-level disinfection (HLD) process kills all vegetative microorganisms, mycobacteria, lipid and nonlipid viruses, fungal spores, and some bacterial spores.

What are high level disinfectants?

High-Level Disinfection (HLD) refers to the treatment of medical devices and dental instruments to inhibit most viable microorganisms, except some spores and prions when present in a significant load. … Glutaraldehyde has been widely used for a long time in healthcare facilities as a HLD for reusable medical devices.

Which Spaulding Classification includes devices that contact mucous membranes?

CategoryDefinitionHigh (critical)Medical devices involved with a break in the skin or mucous membrane or entering a sterile body cavity.Intermediate(semi-critical)Medical devices in contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin.

Is a urinary catheter a semi-critical item?

Critical items have a high risk for infection if they are contaminated with any microorganism. This category includes surgical instruments, cardiac and urinary catheters, implants, and ultrasound probes used in sterile body cavities.

What are the 2 levels of disinfection?

  • High-level (semicritical items; [except dental] will come in contact with mucous membrane or nonintact skin)
  • Intermediate-level (some semicritical items1 and noncritical items)
  • Low-level (noncritical items; will come in contact with intact skin)

What is non critical Spaulding category?

Designing sterile processing facilities The lowest risk items are termed “non-critical” and include patient care equipment like blood pressure cuffs and wheelchairs. This equipment requires only cleaning and low-level disinfection and is generally not the responsibility of sterile processing staff.

When was the Spaulding system created?

The Spaulding classification, originally proposed in 1957, is a widely used system for matching the disinfection and sterilization of surfaces, particularly those of re-usable medical/surgical devices, with available processes.

Are nail clippers non-critical Spaulding category?

Nail nippers used in manual debridement are considered semi-critical instrumentation and should be cleaned with high-level disinfectants. Scalpel blades should not be reused. Scalpel handles can be treated with intermediate-level disinfectants as noncritical instrumentation.

Is a bronchoscope semi-critical?

TermDefinitionExamplesCriticalPenetrates normally sterile space (e.g., bloodstream)Vascular catheters, surgical instrumentsSemicriticalContacts intact mucous membranesBronchoscopeNoncriticalContacts intact skinStethoscope

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What are Spaulding rules of disinfection?

The CDC currently defines Spaulding Classification as, “a strategy for sterilization or disinfection of inanimate objects and surfaces based on the degree of risk involved in their use.” Non-critical devices are those which come into contact with intact skin.

What is an intermediate level disinfectant?

Intermediate-level disinfection refers to the use of an agent that kills a wider range of pathogens than a low-level disinfectant but does not kill bacterial spores. EPA-registered hospital disinfectants with a tuberculocidal claim are intermediate-level disinfectants.

Is alcohol a high-level disinfectant?

In the healthcare setting, “alcohol” refers to two water-soluble chemical compounds—ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol—that have generally underrated germicidal characteristics 482. FDA has not cleared any liquid chemical sterilant or high-level disinfectant with alcohol as the main active ingredient.

What are examples of semi-critical devices?

Examples of semi-critical devices include, but are not limited to, respiratory and anesthesia equipment, vaginal ultrasound probes, cystoscopes, laryngoscope blades and ano-rectal manometers.

What are semi-critical instruments?

2) Semicritical instruments are those that do not penetrate soft tissues or bone but contact oral tis- sues, such as mirrors and amalgam condensers. These devices should also be sterilized after each use. In some cases, however, sterilization is not fea- sible and, therefore, high-level disinfection is appro- priate.

Which of the following equipment is categorized as a semi-critical item?

Semicritical items contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin. This category includes respiratory therapy and anesthesia equipment, some endoscopes, laryngoscope blades 24, esophageal manometry probes, cystoscopes 25, anorectal manometry catheters, and diaphragm fitting rings.

How is a medical device classified as critical semi-critical or non-critical?

Critical devices, such as surgical forceps, come in contact with blood or normally sterile tissue. Semi-critical devices, such as endoscopes, come in contact with mucus membranes. Non-critical devices, such as stethoscopes, come in contact with unbroken skin.

What's the difference between cleaning disinfecting and sterilizing?

Cleaning – removes dirt, dust and other soils from surfaces. Sanitizing – removes bacteria from surfaces. Disinfecting – kills harmful bacteria and viruses from surfaces. Sterilizing – kills all microorganisms from surfaces.

What are the 4 methods of sterilization?

  • Physical Methods: …
  • Radiation Method: …
  • Ultrasonic Method: …
  • Chemical Method:

What is disinfection and types?

Types of Disinfectant. 0006. Disinfectants can be split into two broad groups, oxidizing and nonoxidizing. Oxidizing disinfectants include the halogens, chlorine, iodine, bromine, and chlorine dioxide, and oxygen-releasing materials such as peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Is bleach an intermediate level disinfectant?

Intermediate-Level Disinfection Some of the most common types of intermediate-level disinfectants include these solutions: Quat and alcohol blends. These are able to attack pathogens like norovirus and mycobacteria. Bleach.

What is medical grade disinfectant?

Hospital Grade Disinfectant means a disinfectant that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a hospital-level disinfectant and that performs the functions of bactericides (kill harmful bacteria), virucides (kill pathogenic viruses), and fungicides (destroy fungus).

What are non-critical items?

Noncritical Items: Noncritical items are those that come in contact only with intact skin and do not enter sterile body cavities or mucous membranes. Common examples of noncritical items include blood glucose meters, stethoscopes, and blood pressure cuffs.

What is low level disinfection used for?

According to the CDC, low level disinfectants are appropriate for noncritical items that come in contact with skin, such as stethoscopes, blood pressure and tourniquet cuffs, EKG leads, bedside equipment, and environmental surfaces.

What types of radiation are lethal to microorganisms?

(a) UV radiation causes the formation of thymine dimers in DNA, leading to lethal mutations in the exposed microbes. (b) Germicidal lamps that emit UV light are commonly used in the laboratory to sterilize equipment.

Why is it important to maintain asepsis?

The goal of the aseptic technique is to eliminate germs entirely. The goal of the clean technique is to reduce the number of germs whenever possible. Clean techniques are important for all healthcare providers and their patients because they prevent infections every day.

What is immediate use processing?

“Immediate use” is broadly defined as the shortest possible time between a sterilized item’s removal from the sterilizer and its aseptic transfer to the sterile field.

What is a bronchoscope used for?

Bronchoscopy is a procedure to look directly at the airways in the lungs using a thin, lighted tube (bronchoscope). The bronchoscope is put in the nose or mouth. It is moved down the throat and windpipe (trachea), and into the airways.

Is endoscope a critical item?

Endoscopes that enter sterile body cavities (i.e., cystoscopes, arthoscopes, laparoscopes, biopsy forceps, polysnares) are classified as critical items and therefore, require meticulous cleaning and sterilization between uses.

How do you sterilize a bronchoscope?

The agent recommended for chemical disinfection of fibreoptic bronchoscopes is 2% glutaraldehyde solution; the instrument should be immersed in it for 10 to 30 minutes. Five hours’ exposure to ethylene oxide is recommended for sterilization of instruments.

What is ethylene oxide sterilization?

Ethylene oxide sterilizers are used to sterilize heat- and moisture- sensitive devices that would be damaged by pure steam or liquid chemical sterilization, including most plastic or rubber products (e.g., catheters, resuscitation bags, anesthesia masks, most fiberoptic instruments), as well as non-heat-sensitive …

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