3. Goal of
Infection
Control
• Reduce or eliminate the dose of infectious
pathogens and increase the body’s
resistance.
• How can this be accomplished?
4. Handwashing
• One of the most important single procedures for the prevention of infectious disease.
• We must wash our hands prior to placing any personal protective equipment.
• Reduce bacterial flora of hands to an absolute minimum.
• Resident vs. Transient Skin Flora
5. When
Should
Hands Be
Washed?
• At the beginning of the day
• When hands are visibly soiled
• After bare-handed touching of contaminated
objects or surfaces
• Before donning gloves
• After removing gloves
• Before eating or handling food
• Before handling contact lenses and applying
makeup
• After removal of personal protective equipment
• After hands have been in contact with respiratory
secretions
(For dental health care personnel and for dental
patients in the waiting room)*
• Before leaving the restroom
• At the end of the day
6. Methods of
Handwashing
• Short Scrub
• Beginning of the day.
• 1st gloving of every patient.
• Two-minute hand wash involves
scrubbing under the nails.
• Routine Handwashing/ Short
Standard Handwash
• General procedure for all times
except when short scrub is
necessary.
• One-minute hand wash
7. Alcohol Hand Rubs
• Alcohol based hand rubs can be used if hands
are not visibly soiled with blood or saliva
• To be an effective technique all surfaces of the
hands should be covered
• Advantages:
• Rapid and effective antimicrobial action
• Often more accessible than sinks
• Disadvantages
• May cause dryness
9. Gloves
Protect dental healthcare
workers from direct contact
with microorganisms in the
patient’s mouth.
Protect patients from
microorganisms on the hands
of the dental team.
10. Types Of Gloves
• Latex with or without
powder
• Non-Latex- Vinyl and
Nitrile
• Utility Gloves
• Overgloves
11. Ways to Avoid Contamination
• Keep Gloved Hands Away From….
• Face
• Hair
• Clothing
• Patient records
• Telephones
• Clinic Chair
12. Masks
Used to reduce spread of respiratory disease agents.
Protect mucous membranes of nose and mouth from sprays or
splashes of patient’s oral fluids.
Protect dental health care workers from inhaling aerosolized particles
from patient.
A new disposable mask is worn for each patient
Masks should be worn during handling and cleaning of instruments
If mask becomes wet during treatment change mask immediately
Mask must be removed prior to leaving treatment area- do not pull
down mask under chin.
When removing masks grasp side elastic or strings, not center of
mask.
13. Characteristics Of
An Ideal Mask
• No contact with wearer’s nostrils or lips
• Has high bacterial filtration efficiency rate-
• must filter 95% of small particles that
contact mask
• Fits snuggly around the entire edges of the
mask
• No fogging of eyewear
• Convenient to put on and remove
• Made of material that does not irritate skin or
induce allergic reaction
• Does not collapse during wear or when wet
14. Use of Protective Eyewear
• Protects against infectious disease agents that may use the eye
as an entry way into the body.
• Protects against physical damage to the eye for patient and
operator.
15. Types of
Protective
Eyewear
• All styles must provide
protection to the front and sides
of the eyes
• Goggles
• Eyewear with side-shields or
curved frames
• Magnification/Loupes
• Protective eyewear for patients
and operators must be
decontaminated between
patients.
16. Protective
Clothing
• Clinic gowns/lab coat will
be worn to prevent
contamination of skin and
street clothes from any
spray or splashes of
saliva, blood or other
infectious materials.
• Clinic gowns must be
changed after each patient
or if it becomes visibly
soiled.
