An instrument that contacts intact mucous membranes but does not penetrate sterile tissue (e.g., a vaginal speculum) is classified under the Spaulding system as:

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Multiple choice — select the best answer

ACritical
BEnvironmental
CNoncritical
DSemicritical

✓ Correct answer: D. Semicritical Under the Spaulding classification, semicritical items contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin and require at minimum high-level disinfection. Critical items enter sterile tissue and require sterilization.

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An instrument that contacts intact mucous membranes but does not penetrate sterile tissue (e.g., a vaginal speculum) is classified under the Spaulding system as:

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