Question

Which of the following patient care items is classified as a semicritical instrument?

1) Endoscope
2) Blood pressure cuff
3) Stethoscope
4) Surgical forceps

Answer 1

An endoscope is classified as a semicritical instrument, requiring high-level disinfection but not necessarily sterilization unlike critical items like surgical forceps.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to which patient care item is classified as a semicritical instrument is an endoscope. Semicritical items, such as gastrointestinal endoscopes and respiratory therapy equipment, are those that come into contact with mucous membranes or nonintact skin but do not penetrate tissues. These items do not typically require sterilization but do need high-level disinfection to ensure that they are safe for use on patients. Unlike critical items that must be sterile, semicritical instruments need a lesser degree of decontamination.

In contrast, items such as blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes are examples of noncritical items that only need to be clean, while surgical forceps are classified as critical and must be sterilized.