Spaulding classification
Earle Spaulding of Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in a 1939 paper on disinfection of surgical instruments in a chemical solution proposed "a strategy for sterilization or disinfection of inanimate objects and surfaces based on the degree of risk involved in their use".[1] In order to simplify the nature of the disinfection process, Spaulding classified instruments and items used in patient care according to infection risk into "critical", "semicritical", and "noncritical" categories.[2] He also classified levels of germicidal activity as "high", "intermediate", and "low". While influential, the Spaulding scheme is susceptible to oversimplification and can be difficult to implement.[2]
References
- ^ "Glossary | Infection Prevention & Control in Dental Settings | Division of Oral Health | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ a b "Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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