Semicritical item

Definition

A semicritical item is a medical device that comes into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin. These items require high-level disinfection but not necessarily sterilization.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Semicritical items must be free of all microorganisms except for small numbers of bacterial spores.
2. Examples include endoscopes, respiratory therapy equipment, and some dental instruments.
3. High-level disinfectants used for these items include glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and peracetic acid.
4. Failure to properly disinfect semicritical items can lead to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
5. Disinfection methods for semicritical items often involve liquid chemical germicides or automated reprocessing units.

Review Questions

• What defines a semicritical item in terms of its use and required level of disinfection?
• Give two examples of semicritical items commonly found in medical or dental settings.
• Why is it important to ensure high-level disinfection for semicritical items?

Related terms

Critical Item: An item that enters sterile tissue or the vascular system and requires sterilization.

Noncritical Item: An item that comes into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes and requires low-level disinfection.

High-Level Disinfection: A process that kills all microorganisms except for large numbers of bacterial spores; used for processing semicritical items.