Dental Lab Infection Control - PDF

FACULTY OF PUBLIC HEALTH “FPH” DEPARTMENT OF DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY “DDLT” Health, Safety, & Infection Control in Dental Laboratory Part 2 MAYA NOHRA, MPH A. PROFESSOR...

FACULTY OF PUBLIC HEALTH “FPH” DEPARTMENT OF DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY “DDLT” Health, Safety, & Infection Control in Dental Laboratory Part 2 MAYA NOHRA, MPH A. PROFESSOR HEAD OF DEPARTMENT  INFECTIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY The oral cavity contains the gums, the teeth, the tongue, the palate, the throat and the salivary glands. The oral cavity is not a sterile milieu and it is full of microorganisms of all kinds  PATIENTS INFECTIONS Some types of patients infections: 1. Infections of the oral cavity 2. Infections of the ears 3. Infections of the facial sinuses 4. Infections of the eyes 5. Infections of the head skin 6. Infections of the hands  INFECTIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY Many kinds of infections can be formed inside the oral cavity: 1. Gingivostomatitis: Infection of the gums 2. Dental infections may form local abscesses and pus collections. There are three types of dental abscesses: 1. Gingival: infection in the space between the teeth and the gums. 2. Periodontal: a pocket of pus in the tissues of the gum. 3. Periapical: a collection of pus at the root of a tooth  INFECTIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY 3. Glossitis: infection of the tongue 4. Parotitis: infections that involve the salivary glands 5. Tonsillitis: infection of the tonsils  PATIENT INFECTIONS Infections of the ears: called otitis Infections of the facial sinuses: called sinusitis Infections of the eyes Conjunctivitis results in inflammation. The eye is red, painful, and full of tears Keratitis Infection of the cornea  INFECTIONS OF THE HANDS Are potentially serious and can be due to bacteria, viruses, fungi. Handwashing is a fundamental method of prevention, especially in hospitals, dental laboratories, geriatric houses Several studies have presented dramatic evidence that microbes have an impressive ability to survive on the hands, sometimes for hours, if hands are not cleaned. Contaminated hands can be vehicles for the spread of microbes.  INFECTIONS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE The oral cavity in elderly people is much more colonized by microorganisms than the oral cavity in young adults, due to loss of teeth, poor hygiene, stomatitis, gingivitis, and abscesses and also because of the bad maintenance of dental prostheses. Infections can be due to both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, viruses. Prevention of all these infections can be done by good hygiene and follow up with the dentists INFECTIONS IN THE DENTAL LAB ENVIRONMENT 1. Infections that can be contracted by prosthetic materials 2. Infections found in the dental laboratory environment 3. Infections in the air conditioning canalizations 4. Infections in the water canalizations  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS The most frequent bacteria and viruses that can be present in the dental materials are the following: 1. Tetanus 2. Hepatitis B 3. HIV 4. CMV 5. Staphylococcus Aureus 6. Tuberculosis  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS 1. Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a bacterial toxin(that enter through a cut from a contaminated object) that affects the nervous system. The disease remains a threat to those who aren't up to date on their vaccinations. no cure for tetanus. Treatment focuses on managing complications until the effects of the tetanus toxin resolve  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS 2. Hepatitis B is the world's most common liver infection. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is transmitted through blood, unprotected sex, shared or re-used needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn baby during pregnancy or delivery. Most infected adults are able to get rid of the hepatitis B virus without any problems. However, some adults and most infected babies and children are unable to get rid of the virus and will develop chronic (life-long) infection An acute hepatitis B infection may last up to six months (with or without symptoms) and infected persons are able to pass the virus to others during this time.  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS 3. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The virus attacks the body‘s immune system, specifically the T cells, which help the immune system fight off infections. Untreated, HIV reduces the number of T cells in the body, making the person more likely to get other infections or infection-related cancers. HIV is transmitted through sexual behaviors and needle or syringe use. Only certain body fluids—blood, breast milk—from a person who has HIV can transmit HIV.  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is a common virus that can infect almost anyone. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people don't know they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people. CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. There's no cure for the virus. When first infected, some adults may have: Fatigue, Fever, Sore throat, Muscle aches. Prevention: Wash hands often. Avoid contact with tears and saliva. Avoid sharing food or drinking out of the same glass as others. Be careful with disposable items. Clean toys and countertops. Practice safe sex.  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS Staphylococcus aureus About 30 percent of people carry it either on their skin or in their nose, mostly without it causing any problems. These bacteria are spread by having direct contact with an infected person, by using a contaminated object, or by inhaling infected droplets dispersed by sneezing or coughing.  INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE CONTRACTED BY PROSTHETIC MATERIALS Tuberculosis is a bacterium carried in airborne infective droplet nuclei that can be generated when persons with pulmonary TB sneeze, cough, speak, or sing. TB transmission is controlled through a hierarchy of measures, including administrative controls, environmental controls, and personal respiratory protection.  INFECTIONS FOUND IN THE DENTAL LAB ENVIRONMENT There are many bacteria, viruses found in the dental laboratory environment. Some bacteria and viruses are airborne and are contracted by inhalation, while the others contaminate by direct contact. Bacteria: Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus Influenzae, Moraxella Catharralis, Staphylococcus Aureus, Neissiria Meningitis.  INFECTIONS IN THE AIR CONDITIONING CANALIZATIONS 3 types of microorganisms can be found in the A/C canalizations: 1. Legionella Pneumophilia 2. Mycoplasma Pneumonia 3. Chlamydia Clean the air conditioner will maintain good air quality. Normal ventilation is required on daily practices  INFECTIONS IN THE WATER CANALIZATIONS Dental unit waterlines can become colonized with microorganisms, including bacteria such as salmonella and parasite such as amebae Water should be decontaminated by using filters that block the bacterial and parasitic invasion.  CROSS INFECTION AND OCCUPATIONAL RISKS The use of appropriate infection control precautions is important for dental laboratory professionals, as it is for the dental team. Improper handling of contaminated items can result in cross- contamination and possible cross-infection to personnel. When using routinely the recommended infection control procedures and protocols, along with effective communication between the dental practice and the dental laboratory, can provide a safe working environment for those with potential occupational risks.  CROSS INFECTION AND OCCUPATIONAL RISKS Dental health care personal can be exposed to pathogenic microorganisms including CMV, HBV, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, HIV, tuberculosis, staphylococci, streptococci, and other viruses and bacteria that colonize or infect the oral cavity and respiratory tract.  CROSS INFECTION AND OCCUPATIONAL RISKS These organisms can be transmitted in dental settings through 1) direct contact with blood, oral fluids, or other patient materials; 2) indirect contact with contaminated objects (e.g., instruments, equipment, impression, casts, or environmental surfaces); 3) contact of conjunctival, nasal, or oral mucosa with droplets containing microorganisms generated from an infected person (e.g., by coughing, sneezing, or talking too close ) 4) inhalation of airborne microorganisms that can remain suspended in the air for long periods.  CROSS INFECTION AND OCCUPATIONAL RISKS In order for an infection to be transmitted along any of these routes, specific conditions must be present: 1. a viable microorganism, 2. a reservoir that allows the microorganism to survive, 3. a portal of exit 4. a mode of transmission, 5. a portal of entry, 6. and a susceptible host. The 6 links mentioned above represent the chain of cross infection. A primary goal of infection control is to minimize the spread of infection by breaking as many links in the chain as possible  INFECTION CONTROL PRECAUTIONS Historical documented exposure of dental health team and their patients to a variety of bacterial, viral, and other pathogens led to the development of infection control guidelines by the: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA). As a result, effective infection control measures must be implemented and routinely used across the range of dental practices, including the dental laboratory.