Spaulding classification
Spaulding Classification
Spaulding Classification (pronunciation: /ˈspɔːldɪŋ klæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/) is a system used in healthcare and medicine to categorize medical devices based on the risk of infection involved in their use. This classification system was developed by Earle H. Spaulding in the 1960s.
Etymology
The term "Spaulding Classification" is named after Earle H. Spaulding, a scientist who made significant contributions to the field of infection control. The term "classification" comes from the Latin word "classis", which means "a class or group", and the suffix "-fication", which comes from the Latin word "facere", meaning "to make or do".
Classification
The Spaulding Classification divides medical devices into three categories:
- Critical Items: These are items that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system. They pose a high risk of infection if they are contaminated with any microorganism. Examples include surgical instruments, cardiac catheters, and implants.
- Semi-critical Items: These are items that come into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin. They pose a moderate risk of infection. Examples include respiratory therapy equipment, endoscopes, and anesthesia equipment.
- Non-critical Items: These are items that come into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes. They pose a low risk of infection. Examples include bed linens, crutches, and blood pressure cuffs.
Related Terms
- Sterilization: The process of eliminating all forms of life, including infectious agents, from a surface, fluid, or biological medium.
- Disinfection: The process of reducing or eliminating infectious agents on an object or surface.
- Infection Control: The discipline concerned with preventing healthcare-associated infections.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Spaulding classification
- Wikipedia's article - Spaulding classification
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