Principles of Infection Control Flashcards
Sterilisation definition
The process of making something free from microorganisms and their spores from instruments and other materials.
Disinfection definition
A process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms with an agent, except bacterial spores.
Antiseptic definition
A chemical which stops or slows down the growth of disease causing bacteria or other microorganisms.
Aseptic definition
The complete absence of bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other microorganisms that could cause disease.
Carrier state definition
Prodromal phase - infectious but no symptoms
The state of being a carrier of pathogenic organisms but free from symptoms. Carriers can pass on the pathogenic organisms.
3 methods of sterilisation
- Heat.
- Chemical.
- Gamma radiation. Active agent cobalt 60. (Industrial).
- Ethylene oxide gas (industrial).
(Industrial sterilisation used for single use items like gauze, needles, surgical blades).
CJD
There is no process that can fully deactivate prion proteins.
Transfer of microorganisms
- Community to patient (indirect/droplet).
- Patient to dental team (direct/droplet/indirect).
- Dental team to patient (direct/droplet/indirect).
- Patient to patient (indirect/droplet).
- Dental surgery to the community (indirect/droplet).
Standard Infection Control Precautions
- Basic infection prevention.
- All staff.
- All settings.
- All patients.
- At all times.
Types of microorganisms that can be transferred
- Bacteria.
- Viruses.
- Fungi.
- Parasites.
- Prions.
Carrier status in the UK - diseases
- HIV.
- Hep B.
- Hep C.
- Herpes.
- TB.
- Meningitis.
- Syphilis.
- Staphlococcus.
Infectious organisms - Viability outside of the mouth
- HIV - 1 week.
- Hep B/C - up to 1 week.
- Herpes - 72 hours.
- Influenza - 8-12 hours.
Pre-sterilisation cleaning
- Heavy duty gloves.
- Ultrasonic bath 3 minutes.
- If instruments left to dry, soak in reverse osmosis water before ultrasonic.
- Check instruments visibly clean.
- Dry with lint free cloth if vacuum autoclaving.
- Empty out and clean ultrasonic back daily.
Washer disinfectors best practice
- Run according to manufacturers instructions.
- 45-55 degrees celcius for blood removal .
- Liquid cleaning agent used.
- Thermal disinfection.
- Temperature held at 90 degrees celcius for 5 minutes to inactivate Hep B virus.
- Cycle time and temperature and instruments should be periodically checked.
Advantages of ultrasonics and washer disinfectors
- High degree of cleanliness.
- Penetration into instruments areas that a brush may not reach.
- Reduced danger to clinician - not handling them so less chance of inoculation injury and infection from direct contact/aerosols when scrubbing.
