IBSC Certified Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO-C) Certification Practice Exam

In Spaulding’s framework, items are classified by how they contact patient tissues and what level of decontamination is needed. A laryngoscope blade touches mucous membranes but does not invade sterile body spaces, so it falls into the semi-critical category. Semi-critical devices require high-level disinfection to eliminate virtually all microorganisms, including most bacteria, viruses, and fungi, though some bacterial spores may remain. Sterilization is reserved for critical items that enter sterile tissues or the vascular system, and cleaning or only low-level disinfection would not meet the protection level needed for semi-critical instruments.