What characterizes non-critical items?

Non-critical items are characterized by their interaction with the body, specifically in terms of the potential for transmitting infections. Items that come into contact with skin fall into this category because the skin is generally a barrier to infection. Non-critical items include those that may touch intact skin or non-sterile conditions but do not penetrate or reach sterile areas of the human body.

The rationale behind this classification is related to the risk level associated with infection transmission. Non-critical items are less of a concern for transmission of pathogens compared to items that come into contact with sterile tissues or are used in surgical procedures, which have a higher risk of introducing pathogens into the body. This distinction helps guide appropriate disinfection and sterilization practices in medical and laboratory settings to mitigate infection risks.