Question

You have a pulse oximetry probe that needs to be cleaned after use. What Spaulding decontamination category is this device in, and what level of cleaning is required?

A) Noncritical, high-level disinfection
B) Semicritical, high-level disinfection
C) Noncritical, low-level disinfection
D) Semicritical, low-level disinfection
E) Semicritical, sterilization

Answer 1

A pulse oximetry probe is considered a noncritical item and requires low-level disinfection according to the Spaulding classification for decontamination.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Spaulding classification for decontamination of medical devices categorizes items into critical, semicritical, and noncritical, based on the level of contact with sterile tissues, mucous membranes, or intact skin, respectively. A pulse oximetry probe, which typically contacts intact skin and does not penetrate tissue, falls under the category of noncritical items. Therefore, the correct level of cleaning required for a pulse oximetry probe would be option C) Noncritical, low-level disinfection. This level of cleaning ensures that the device is clean and safe for use on the next patient without the extensive process required for sterilizing critical devices or high-level disinfection needed for semicritical devices.