Online course on
Infection Control in a Dental Practice

General Concepts of  Infection Control
Further Content:
Factors influencing germicidal procedures:
  • Nature of material
  • Number of micro-organisms
  • Organic material present
  • Type and concentration of germicide

  Infectious diseases

  Aseptic Techniques

  Laboratory Asepsis

  Infection Control  Program

  CPD
Definitions
Critical materials: - to be used in sterile areas and will violate blood or bone spaces
Semi-critical materials:
 - come in contact with mucous membrane skin, but will not violate critical areas
Non critical materials:
 - do not come in contact with skin or mucous membranes
Sterilization: - Destruction of all microbial life
Disinfection:
 - Reduction in the number of microbes
Antisepsis:
 - Limited to human tissues and results in a reduction in the number of microbes

Rule: Don't disinfect anything you can sterilize!
Terms applied to liquid sterilisants or disinfectants:
Shelf life:
 - the amount of time a concentrate may be stored prior to use
Use life:
 - the amount of time a mixed solution from a concentrate may be stored prior to use
Re-use life:
 - the amount of time a mixed solution from a concentrate may be re-used once it has been contaminated
Re-use life data is given by manufacturers in numbers of days of re-use. These data assume that instruments are dipped into the solution for 3 cycles or less each day.
Vaccinations:
 MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Polio, Tetanus, TB, Heptavax/Recombivax, Hepatitis B Booster every 5 years
Components of Infection control in dental practice:
 Patient screening, Aseptic techniques, Personal protection, Laboratory asepsis, Instrument recirculation, Surface and equipment disinfection
"High risk" groups
 Homosexual men, Bisexual men, prostitutes, Health care workers, Military personnel, Drug addicts, Institutional personnel, Haemophiliacs, Institutionalized patients, "Third world" people, World travellers
"High risk" activities
 Intravenous drug abuse, Unsafe sexual practices, Multiple se partners, Blood transfusion, Unsafe practices in dentistry, Ignorance

Note!: The dental operator must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of infectious diseases.
How?: By a complete external and internal oral examination
However, each patient should be regarded as potentially infectious. The asymptotic carrier cannot be recognized.
 

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