Which term describes instruments that have contact with intact skin?

Infection control terminology categorizes instruments based on their risk of infection transmission, particularly their contact with patient tissues. Non-critical equipment refers to those instruments or items that come into contact with intact skin but not with mucous membranes. Since intact skin serves as a natural barrier to infection, the risk of transmitting pathogens through non-critical equipment is lower than that associated with instruments that come into contact with mucous membranes or sterile areas of the body.

Non-critical items include things like blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and examination tables. These items require less stringent disinfection protocols, typically involving low-level disinfection, because they do not penetrate the skin or come into contact with areas that are more susceptible to infection.

In contrast, critical devices are those that enter sterile tissues or the vascular system, necessitating sterilization. Semi-critical instruments contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin and require high-level disinfection. High-level disinfectants are agents used to sterilize semi-critical instruments but are not a type of instrument themselves. This categorization helps healthcare professionals prioritize appropriate cleaning and disinfection methods to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections.