The Spaulding Classification System includes which of the following categories for medical devices?

The Spaulding Classification System is a widely recognized framework used to categorize medical devices based on the risk of infection they pose, guiding appropriate disinfection and sterilization practices. The system divides medical devices into three distinct categories: critical, semicritical, and noncritical.

Devices classified as critical are those that enter sterile body tissues or the vascular system, and they require sterilization before use to eliminate any risk of infection. Semicritical devices come into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin and require high-level disinfection to reduce the chance of pathogen transmission. Noncritical devices, on the other hand, only touch intact skin, and basic cleaning and low-level disinfection are generally sufficient.

This classification helps healthcare professionals determine the level of processing required for each type of device, ensuring patient safety and effective infection control. The other options do not correctly represent the categories outlined by the Spaulding Classification System and therefore do not provide the necessary framework for medical device processing.