infection control in dentistry

2. Infection control
 It refers to a comprehensive and
systematic program that when applied
prevent the transmission of infectious
agents among persons who are in
indirect or direct contact with the health
care environment.

3. TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION
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 The two principle modes of disease transmission in
which infectious diseases are acquired in dentistry.
1. CONTACT
2. DROPLET INFECTION

4. COMPONENTS OF INFECTION CONTROL
 Immunization
 Patient screening
 Hand hygiene
 Barrier technique
 Needle and sharp instrument safety
 Instruments sterilization and disinfection
 Surface disinfection and general operatory
asepsis
 Radiographic asepsis
 Laboratory asepsis
 Disposal of contaminated waste

5. 1. IMMUNIZATION
 Dental personnel can reduce the risk of
contracting infectious diseases by maintaining
their health and immune status
 Dental personnel should maintain up to date
immunization records, that include vaccination
against:
 - Hepatitis B
 - Rubella
 - Measles
 - Mumps
 - Influenza
 - Poliomyelitis
 - Tetanus/diphtheria

6. 2. Patient screening
 Complete medical history should be taken for
every new patient and updated during recall
appointments to determine infectious status.
 Screening specially useful when patients report
positive disease status for blood born disease, as
there may be a percutaneous injury to the
operator during dental treatment.

7. 3. Hand hygiene
 Hand hygiene in health care facilities is the most
important aspect in the prevention of infection. It
significantly reduce microorganisms on hand and
protect both patient and dental staff.
 Hand hygiene is important because:
Hands are the most common mode of disease
transmission.
 Hand washing products include plain soap and
agents with antimicrobial activity.
 Although hand washing depends primarily on a
mechanical effect and any liquid soap is
acceptable, however skin bacteria can rapidly
multiply under gloves if hands are washed with
soap that is not antimicrobial. So hand washing

8.  The following agents have been found to be
effective
 2-4% chlorhexidine
 0.3-1% triclosan
 60-70% propanol
 Components of good hand washing
 clean nails and skin thoroughly to remove all visible
soil
 rinse well to remove all visible soap
 dry thoroughly.
 Indications for hand hygiene
 when hands are visibly soiled
 after barehanded touching of inanimate objects likely
to be contaminated by blood, saliva, or respiratory
secretions.

9. 4. Barrier techniques - personal
protective equipment (PPE)
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 Personal protective equipment (PPE), or barrier
precautions, are a major component of standard
precautions.
 PPE is essential to protect the skin and the mucous
membranes of personnel from exposure to
infectious or potentially infectious materials.
 The various barriers are gloves, masks, protective
eye wear, surgical head cap & overgarments

10. PPE should be placed in the
following order
1. clothing
2. mask
3. glasses
4. wash hand, place gloves
Removal of PPE
1. gloves
2. clothes
3. mask
4. glasses

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12. 5. STERILIZATION & DISINFECTION
 STERILIZATION is defined as the process where all the
living microorganisms, including bacterial spores are killed.
Used for all instruments which come in contact with blood
or saliva
 Sterilization can be achieved by physical, or chemical, or
physiochemical means. Chemicals used as sterilizing agents
are called chemisterilants.
 DISINFECTION is the process of elimination of most
pathogenic microorganisms (excluding bacterial spores) on
inanimate objects. Disinfection can be achieved by physical or
chemical methods. Chemicals used in disinfection are called
disinfectants. Different disinfectants have different target

13. Methods of sterilization
1. Steam vapor under pressure
(autoclave)
2. Dry heat oven:
3. Chemical vapor (chemiclave):
4. Heat transfer (Bead type):

14. COLD STERILIZATION
 Used with the plastic items that are
damaged from the heat sterilizers.
 2- 3.2% solution of Glutaraldehyde is
used for a contact time of 10 hours.

15. Surface disinfection

16. Disinfectants Versus Antiseptics
 Disinfectants are chemicals that are applied to
inanimate surfaces (such as dental equipment).
 Antiseptics are antimicrobial agents that are applied
to living tissue.
 Disinfectants and antiseptics should never be used
interchangeably because tissue toxicity and damage to
equipment can result.

17. Types of Chemical Disinfectants
 1- Iodophors
 2- Alcohols
 3- Synthetic phenol compounds
 4- Sodium hypochlorite (household bleach)

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PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID INJURY
EXPOSURE

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22. Type of bags Waste material
Yellow bag Gloves, masks, head caps,
suction tips
Red bag - Body tissues, blood soiled
materials ,extracted tooth
Blue bag Needles syringes scalpels
blades glass endodontic files
Black bag Discarded medicines,
incineration ash, chemicals
used in disinfection