According to the Spaulding classification of medical devices by infection risk, how is a flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope classified, and what level of reprocessing does it require between patients?

• A Critical item requiring sterilization
• B Noncritical item requiring low-level disinfection
• C Semicritical item requiring high-level disinfection ✓
• D Semicritical item requiring only intermediate-level disinfection

Explanation

A bronchoscope contacts mucous membranes but does not ordinarily penetrate sterile tissue, placing it in the semicritical category, which mandates high-level disinfection capable of destroying all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores. Critical items entering sterile tissues or the vascular system, such as biopsy forceps, require sterilization. Noncritical items like blood pressure cuffs touch intact skin only and need low-level disinfection, while intermediate-level disinfection is insufficient for semicritical devices.

Reference: Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.