The Principles of Medical Device Decontamination

Risk and device classification

Reccommendation / Decontamination level

Application / procedure

• Introduced into sterile body areas; e.g. surgical instruments; biopsy forceps • In close contact with broken skin or broken mucous membrane. • In contact with mucous membranes not penetrating sterile tissue e.g. flexible endoscopes, vaginal specula. • Contaminated with

Cleaning and disinfection followed by sterilisation

High / Critical

Cleaning followed by high level disinfection or sterilisation N.B. Where high temperature steam sterilisation may damage equipment, users should consider less damaging alternative low temperature sterilisation technologies

Medium / Semi-critical

particularly virulent or readily transmissible organisms. • Before use on immunocompromised patients.

• In contact with healthy skin e.g. stethoscope; sphygmomanometer

Cleaning and low level disinfection

Low / Non critical

Table 3.1 Clinical risk and Spaulding’s classification

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