Table 1.

The Spaulding criteria [13].

Classification	Definition	Level of Reprocessing	Examples
Critical	Enters sterile tissue	Sterilization	Surgical instruments
Semi-critical	In contact with nonintact skin or mucous membranes but does not penetrate them	Minimum high-level disinfection Sterilization preferred	Respiratory equipment Anesthesia equipment
Noncritical	Touches only intact skin, or does not directly touch patient	Low-level disinfection	Electrocardiogram machine Oximeter Bedpan