Reprocessing semicritical items: An overview and an update on the shift from HLD to sterilization for endoscopes.

Background: Semicritical medical devices are defined as items that come into contact with mucous membranes or nonintact skin (e.g., gastrointestinal endoscopes, endocavitary probes). Such medical devices require minimally high-level disinfection.

Methods: Analyze the methods used to reprocess semicritical medical devices and identify methods and new technologies to reduce the risk of infection.

Results: The reprocessing methods for semicritical medical devices is described as well as a shift from high-level disinfection to sterilization for lumened endoscopes.

Conclusions: Strict adherence to current guidelines and transition to sterilization for endoscopes is required as more outbreaks have been linked to inadequately disinfected endoscopes and other semicritical items than any other reusable medical devices.