Table 59.1.

Spaulding’s Classification of Devices¹²

Device/Item	Definition	Risk of Infection	Example	Reprocessing Procedure
Critical	Medical device that is intended to enter a normally sterile environment, sterile tissue, or the vasculature	High	Surgical instrument, cardiac catheter, implants, needle, ultrasound probes used in sterile body cavity	Sterilization by steam, plasma, or ethylene oxide
Semicritical	Devices that are intended to come in contact with the mucous membrane or nonintact skin	High/intermediate	Flexible endoscope, respiratory therapy equipment, manometry probes, diaphragm-fitting rings, laryngoscope blades	Sterilization desirable, high-level disinfectants
Noncritical	Devices come in contact with intact skin	Low	Blood pressure cuff, stethoscope	Intermediate or low-level disinfectant