Master the Certified Healthcare Leader Challenge 2025 – Lead the Charge to Success!

Non-critical items in a healthcare setting are classified as those that come into contact with intact skin. These items generally do not require sterilization after each use, as they pose a low risk of infection.

Intact skin serves as a natural barrier to pathogens; therefore, items that merely come into contact with it can typically be cleaned and disinfected rather than sterilized. This classification helps healthcare facilities prioritize resources and apply appropriate cleaning protocols for different types of items, ensuring safety and efficiency in infection control practices. Non-critical items might include items such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, or other medical equipment used during patient examinations that do not penetrate or break the skin barrier.

The other classifications involve items that either contact mucous membranes, break skin, or are used in sterile procedures, all of which require higher levels of disinfection or sterilization to mitigate infection risks.