CF- Infection prevention and control

Question 1

Name 5 standard precautions for infection control.

Answer 1

1. hand hygiene before gloving and after glove removal
2. use of PPE such as gloves, masks, eye protection
3. appropriate handling and disposal of sharps
4. effective environmental cleaning and environmental barriers such as plastic coverings on surfaces that may be contaminated and difficult to clean
5. asepctic non-touch techniques where indicated
6. appropriate handling and disposal of contaminated waste

Question 2

When should hands be washed vs hand sanitiser?

Answer 2

when visibly dirty or contaminated

Question 3

Role of gloves

Answer 3

• when risk of exposure to blood, saliva, other body secretions or in contact w mucous membranes
• does not replace need for HH, must be removed and ABHR applied before touching clean area
• non-sterile exam gloves for non-surgical general procedure, sterile for surgical procedures

Question 4

What are the most common cause of airborne aerosols in dental setting?

Answer 4

• high-speed air rotor handpiece
• U/S scaler
• triplex syrine

Question 5

How often to change masks/why?

Answer 5

filtration abilities begin to decline w moisture on inner and outer surface after ~20mins, recommended to change every hour

Question 6

3 mask classifications, which is used for dentistry?

Answer 6

1. procedure masks
2. surgical masks - for high risk of fluid exposure
3. surgical n95 respiratory - for surgical smoke w lasers etc, also for aerosol transmissible diseases e.g. covid-19

level 2 for dent

Question 7

Sharps handling procedure

Answer 7

• never pass by hand between staff members
• burs removed from handpieces when not in use
• tip guard on U/S scaler tip when not in use
• needles must not be re-sheathed w/o recapping device or single-handed technique

Question 8

What to do if sharps injury happens?

Answer 8

1. stop what you are doing
2. remove glove and rinse wound gently, allow bleeding do not squeeze
3. wash w mild soap and water, do not scrub
4. get supervisor/DA help, cover wound w waterporrf dressing
5. report incident (complete incident form)
6. required blood tests (pt may be asked too)

Question 9

What is the contaminated zone?

Answer 9

• are which become scontaminated by splashes and droplets from patient’s mouth (typically within 1m), aerosols may extend further than splashed material (~1.8m around pt mouth)
• contaminated zone = area contaminated w material from pt care + instrument cleaning area

Question 10

Why do organisms in biofilms flourish in dental unit waterlines?

Answer 10

the lines to handpieces, triplex and U/S scaler are small in diameter and hence have slow flow rates and large SA to volume ratios