Which of the following materials require high-level germicides for proper disinfection?

• A. Non-critical items such as stethoscopes
• B. Surgical instruments used in invasive procedures
• C. Reusable blood pressure cuffs
• D. Environmental surfaces like floors and walls

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the classification of medical items based on the Spaulding classification system, which divides items into critical, semi-critical, and non-critical categories depending on the risk of infection associated with their use.
2. Step 2: Identify that critical items are those that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system, such as surgical instruments used in invasive procedures, and therefore require sterilization or high-level disinfection to eliminate all microorganisms including spores.
3. Step 3: Recognize that non-critical items, like stethoscopes and reusable blood pressure cuffs, come into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes or sterile body sites, so they require low-level or intermediate-level disinfection rather than high-level germicides.
4. Step 4: Note that environmental surfaces such as floors and walls are generally disinfected with low-level disinfectants because they pose a lower risk of transmitting infections.
5. Step 5: Conclude that surgical instruments used in invasive procedures require high-level germicides for proper disinfection due to their critical nature and the risk of infection if contaminated.