Which type of infection control method is used for items that come into contact with broken skin?

The appropriate infection control method for items that come into contact with broken skin is semicritical. Semicritical items are those that, while they do not penetrate soft tissue or bone, do come into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin. Therefore, these items require a higher level of disinfection, such as high-level disinfection, to reduce the risk of infection.

Understanding the classification of items based on their risk level is crucial in healthcare settings. Non-critical items, for example, typically come into contact only with intact skin, which means that standard cleaning and disinfection procedures may suffice. Critical items, on the other hand, are those that penetrate soft tissue, bone, or enter the vascular system, necessitating sterilization methods to eliminate all forms of microbial life.

By identifying items as semicritical, healthcare professionals recognize the importance of stringent infection control to prevent potential transmission of pathogens, particularly in clinical environments where the risk of infectious disease spread is heightened. This classification forms a fundamental part of safe practices in healthcare.