Healthcare employers are not required to provide routine booster shots or serologic testing to their employees, other than serologic testing immediately following the vaccination series. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard incorporates the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) by…
While not specifically prohibited by in California, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that dental personnel with direct contact with patients refrain from wearing artificial nails, keeping natural nail tips short and groomed, and stop wearing…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that heat-sensitive, reusable, patient–care items used during dental treatment be cleaned and undergo sterilization (critical items) or high-level disinfection (semi-critical instruments) between patients using a chemical sterilant/high-level disinfectant approved by…
With the measles outbreak in California and the flu outbreaks nationwide, dental staff need to make sure they are screening patients for these diseases prior to treating patients. In California, Cal/OSHA's Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Standard requires healthcare providers to…
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory, warning the public to expect a severe flu season this year. The most common flu variants circulating to date this year are the influenza A H3N2…
With the deadly Ebola virus claiming its first victim on American soil this past week, healthcare providers, including dental professionals, need to be aware of how to screen and manage patients for the disease. Although the U.S. Centers for Disease…
While not prohibited, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that dental personnel with direct contact with patients refrain from wearing artificial nails, keeping natural nail tips to no longer than ¼ inch in length. Artificial nails have…
With the flu season well upon us, and quite severe this year, we want to remind you about proper hand hygiene. Proper hand hygiene is considered to be the single most important measure for preventing pathogen transmission in healthcare settings.…
In the United States, under the authority of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sole responsibility to establish the rules for efficacy claims and safety of surface disinfectants. Under FIFRA, any substance…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings - 2003, “cleaning should precede all disinfection and sterilization processes; it should involve removal of debris as well as organic and inorganic…
