Choose your country and language

You are currently on

Australia

Australia

Global

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Spaulding Classification

The internationally adopted framework for disinfection and sterilisation of medical devices.

Spaulding Classification

The internationally adopted framework for disinfection and sterilisation of medical devices.
Earle H. Spaulding recognised a disinfection framework was required since all reusable medical devices cannot be sterilised.1

The Spaulding Classification met a key unmet need that today still forms the basis of international medical device disinfection guidelines.

The Spaulding Classification


The Spaulding Classification stratifies the risk of infection transmission based on the patient tissue the device will contact during use. The device classification determines the level of disinfection/sterilisation required (Table 1).

Table 1: Overview of The Spaulding Classification.1-6

Spaulding Classification

Medical Device Contacts

Risk of Infection Transmission

Disinfection Level

Critical

Sterile tissue or the bloodstream

 High

Sterilisation*

Semi-critical

Mucous membranes or non-intact skin

 Medium

High-Level Disinfection (HLD)

Non-critical

Intact skin only

 Low 

Intermediate-level (ILD)

or 

Low-level disinfection (LLD)

 

* Critical ultrasound probes can be high level disinfected and used with a sterile sheath if sterilisation is not possible.5,6

Sterilisation

Sterilisation destroys all microorganisms.4

Critical devices must be sterile when used.1

Sterilisation

High Level Disinfection (HLD)

High Level Disinfection (HLD)

The Spaulding Classification stratifies the risk of infection transmission based on the patient tissue the device will contact during use. The device classification determines the level of disinfection/sterilisation required (Table 1).

HLD destroys all microorganisms with the exception of high numbers of bacterial spores.4 A high level disinfectant is therefore bactericidal, virucidal (both lipid and non-lipid viruses), fungicidal and mycobactericidal.

Semi-critical ultrasound probes must undergo HLD and be used with a sheath.4-5

Critical ultrasound probes that cannot be sterilised can also undergo HLD.4,5 They must also be used with a sterile sheath.4, 5

Learn when to HLD ultrasound probes

Learn about HLD with the trophon®3 device

Low & Intermediate Level Disinfection

An intermediate level or low level instrument grade disinfectant may be used for disinfection of non-critical instruments.4

Low level instrument grade disinfectants kill vegetative bacteria, some fungi and some viruses.4

Intermediate level instrument grade disinfectants kill vegetative bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses and most fungi but do not kill bacterial spores.4

Low & Intermediate Level Disinfection

Understanding Disinfection

It is important to recognise there are differences between disinfection levels and sterilisation. Correctly applying The Spaulding Classification to medical devices is a key part of keeping patients safe from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Disinfection Levels Table 03 2025

Learn more about the trophon®3 device

  1. Spaulding EH (1968). Chemical disinfection of medical and surgical materials. Disinfection, sterilization, and preservation. Lawrence C, Block SS. Philadelphia (PA), Lea & Febiger: 517-531.
  2. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHSS). 2 ed. Sydney, Australia: ACSQHC; 2017.
  3. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. Canberra, Australia: NHMRC; 2019.
  4. AS 5369:2023 Reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health and non-health related facilities
  5. Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM). Guidelines for Reprocessing Ultrasound Transducers. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 2017;20(1):30-40.
  6. College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM). Prevention of pathogen transmission during ultrasound use in the Intensive Care Unit: Recommendations from the College of Intensive Care Medicine Ultrasound Special Interest Group (USIG). Date accessed: 14th of May 2020.