The daily fight to limit cross-infection in a dental office
The daily fight to limit cross-infection in a dental office is neverending and can sometimes be very tiring. However, the battle against an outbreak is even worse. When it occurs, a dental team’s reputation collapses, mass media can fuel bad publicity, lawyers come into play and insurance cover is uncertain. So, we can expect it to be a shock for our pockets whether it ends in or out of court.
Recently available reports on infection outbreaks caused by blood-borne viruses,1 nontuberculous mycobacteria contamination caught by kids from dental unit water, 2 as well as the so called peri-implantitis "Tsunami”,3,4 contribute in making infection prevention a priority in dental settings. At the same time, the choice to switch to cost-saving measures for infection prevention is also becoming a growing issue.
This CE accredited webinar, hosted by Livia Barenghi, will firstly review the background on patient and worker safety and then the current recommendations which have been released by the Centers for Disease Control (USA)5,6 and adapted for EU dental offices. According to the European Charter of Patients’ Rights (Right n°9), all European citizens have the right to safety, including against cross-infection.7 EU Directives and Regulations work towards guaranteeing this right.8
Upon completion of this webinar, the participants will be able to:
• Identify infection prevention regulations within the EU regulatory framework
• Understand main differences with C.D.C recommendations
• Apply top infection control activities for clinical contact surfaces9
• Apply top infection control activities for dental unit water quality
• Have an open conversation around common errors & lapses in the daily infection control measures.
References
1. Cleveland JL et al. Transmission of blood-borne pathogens in US dental health care settings: 2016 update. JADA 2016
2. Arduino M, Miller J, Shannon M. Safe water, safe dentistry, safe kids. OSAP 2017
3. Rams, T.E. et al. Antibiotic resistance in human peri-implantitis microbiota. Clinical Oral Implants Research 2013
4. Octavi Camps-Font et al. Postoperative Infections After Dental Implant Placement: Prevalence, Clinical Features, and Treatment. Implant Dentistry 2015
5. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/reuse-of-devices.html
6. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/updates.html update 17/02/2017
7. European Charter of Patients’ Rights, November 2002
8. https://osha.europa.eu/en/safety-and-health-legislation/european-guidelines
9. Barenghi L. Clean, disinfect and cover: top activities for clinical contact surface in dentistry. https://www.kerrdental.com/en-dk/resource-center/clean-disinfect-and-cover-top-activities-clinical-contactsurfaces-dentistry-dr