History of Cleaning and Sterilisaton

Question 1

What are the Spaulding classifications?

Answer 1

Critical device
Semi-critical device
Non-critical device

Question 2

What is a critical device?

Answer 2

A device that penetrates soft tissues, makes contact with bone and enters or contacts the bloodstream or normally sterile tissue
Eg - surgical and biopsy instruments, forceps

Question 3

What level of reprocessing must a critical device have?

Answer 3

Device must be cleaned and then sterilised

Question 4

What is a semi-critical device?

Answer 4

A device that comes into contact with non-intact skin or mucous membrane, but does not penetrate soft tissue or make contact with the bloodstream, bone or normally sterile tissue
Eg - dental mirror, anaesthetic syringes

Question 5

What level of processing does a semi-critical device need?

Answer 5

The device must be cleaned and subject to high-level disinfection
Steam sterilisation preferred

Question 6

What is a non-critical device?

Answer 6

A device that only comes into contact with the skin and intact mucous membrane
Eg - chair light handle

Question 7

What level of processing does a non-critical device need?

Answer 7

Cleaning followed by low level disinfection

Question 8

What are the stages for processing instruments?

Answer 8

Cleaning
Disinfection
Inspection
Packaging
Sterilisation
Transport
Storage
Use
Transport

Question 9

What happens at every stage of processing instruments?

Answer 9

Location
Facilities
Equiptment
Management
Policies/Procedures