While not explicitly prohibited by OSHA, carpet in dental operatories is highly discouraged, since both chemical spills and bloodborne pathogen contamination can occur during dental procedures. The bottom line is that carpeting is more difficult to keep clean and cannot…
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…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes patient-care dental items (instruments, devices, equipment) into three categories: Critical items cut bone and/or penetrate soft tissue and carry the highest risk of disease transmission. Semi-critical items touch mucous membranes or…
OSHA requires the hepatitis B vaccination to be made available to all employees with the potential for occupational exposure to blood/OPIM (other potentially infectious material), within ten working days of initial employment or new assignment. Employee must be provided with…
Oklahoma investigators announce first documented patient-to-patient hepatitis C transmission in a dental office On September 18, Oklahoma public health investigators released a status update confirming the first known patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C. The transmission occurred in an Oklahoma dental…
In Case of a Positive Spore Test… Weekly monitoring of sterilization procedures using biologic indicators, i.e. spore tests, to evaluate the sterilizing conditions and the equipment’s effectiveness is an important part of infection control. Both the Centers for Disease Control…
April 1, 2013 – Infection control and prevention in the dental setting are critical part to a successful dental practice. Not following the infection control “standard of care” can lead to unwanted exposure to transmissible infections during dental treatment. This…
Surface Disinfection is the process that eliminates, inactivates, or destroys pathogens on a surface or item to the point where the surface or item is no longer capable of transmitting infectious pathogens, thereby rendering the surface or item safe for…
