Items that come in contact with mucous membranes are considered which level of criticality regarding infection risk?

Items that come in contact with mucous membranes are classified as semi-critical due to the moderate risk they pose for infection. Semi-critical items are those that may touch mucous membranes or non-intact skin, which means they carry a potential for pathogen transmission.

In a healthcare setting, these items must be properly cleaned and disinfected before use to minimize the risk of infection. For instance, grade examples of semi-critical items include thermometers, laryngoscopes, and endoscopes, which come into direct contact with these sensitive areas of the body.

The classification into critical, semi-critical, and non-critical categories is essential for determining the appropriate level of disinfection or sterilization required. Critical items, by contrast, penetrate sterile tissues or the vascular system and must be sterile. Non-critical items only come into contact with intact skin, where the risk of infection is significantly lower. This classification system underscores the importance of appropriately managing infection control practices based on the nature of the item’s contact with human tissue.