Which type of instruments carries the greatest risk of transmitting infection?

Critical instruments carry the greatest risk of transmitting infection because they are used to penetrate soft tissue or bone. This category includes instruments such as scalpel blades, surgical scissors, and dental handpieces, which directly contact sterile tissues or the vascular system. If these instruments are not properly sterilized between uses, they can introduce pathogens directly into a patient’s body, leading to serious infections.

The handling and sterilization of critical instruments are essential to infection control protocols in dental and medical settings. It is crucial to ensure that these instruments undergo rigorous sterilization processes to eliminate any potential microbial contamination. In contrast, non-critical instruments, which only touch intact skin, and semi-critical instruments, which contact mucous membranes, pose a lower risk for infection transmission. Disposable instruments reduce the risk of transmission because they are single-use and are discarded after one patient, eliminating the need for sterilization altogether.