Infection Control in Dentistry (LEC 2)

Study Notes

Standard Precautions are designed to protect DHCP and prevent infection spread among patients.
Standard Precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices for all patient care, regardless of infection status.

Patient Evaluation: Includes thorough medical history, specific questions about medications, current/recurrent illnesses, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, oral lesions, or other infections. Medical consultation may be needed for active infections or systemic disease.
Immunization: Essential for protection.
Hand Hygiene: Critically important step; wash hands with plain or antimicrobial soap for one minute at the beginning of work day. Wash hands if visibly soiled or contaminated.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use appropriate PPE.
Safe Injection Practices: Essential for infection control.
Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette: Practices to contain respiratory droplets.
Sharps Safety: Proper disposal of sharp objects.
Sterile Instruments and Devices: Use and maintain clean instruments.
Clean and Disinfected Environmental Surfaces: Maintain a clean and disinfected environment.

Blood-borne Diseases: Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), Hepatitis D (HDV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Air-borne Diseases: Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus spp.

90% of infected recover fully.
About 10% become carriers.
50% eliminate the virus within 2 years.
50% develop chronic hepatitis.
Several studies (1970-1982) in the USA showed high infection rates among dental hygienists (17%), dental technicians (14%), dentists (25%), and the general population (5%).
A 90% decrease in HBV among healthcare workers occurred later in 1994 due to vaccination and improved infection control principles.

HIV destroys the immune system, making individuals susceptible to other infections.
Progression from HIV infection to AIDS has been significantly slowed by antiviral drugs.

Strongly recommended for all dental team members.
Vaccine regime: 1 ml doses are given at 0, 1, and 6 months.
Post-screening for antibody levels is done 1-2 months after the last injection.
A repeat series of three injections is needed if the patient does not seroconvert (develop antibodies) during the initial vaccine series.
Booster injections are still debated and are not recommended by the CDC currently.

Plain soap and antimicrobial soap.
Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs).
ABHR is more accessible at the point of care and takes less time.
Hands should be visibly soiled or contaminated before wearing gloves and after removing them.
Essential to follow proper hand washing techniques (wetting, Application of soap, rubbing, rinsing, and drying).
Duration of hand washing/scrubbing should last for 20–60s based on whether you are using soap or alcohol-based hand rub.