Infection Control awareness for GDP's in the dental surgery, in relation to patient awareness of effective infection control procedures
Infection control - quick fire questions
Can you answer the following questions?
1. What are the four most common routes of transmission for cross infection?
2. What is the minimum infective dose?
3. When creating an infection control policy, who should decide on what the procedures should be, and when, how and by whom they should be implemented?
4. What is surgical hand washing?
5. Dental hand pieces should be sterilised by what method?
6. What is the most appropriate method of disinfecting impressions?
If you can't answer these questions, then read on...
Why is the GDC now focusing on this area of our industry?
Cross infection control is now an essential and legal part of a modern dental practice. When a patient consents to dental treatment they expect the standard of infection control to be impeccable and to put them above any conceivable risk.
Staff have a statutory duty of care to ensure that all instruments and equipment are safe for use and that any that have been contaminated with either blood or other body fluids go through a thorough process of cleaning / disinfection, sterilisation and storage. This should form part of your written infection control policy, which all staff should understand and abide by at all times. It also forms the basis of a training and reference guide for staff, particularly during their inductions.
Staff training
Inductions and ongoing training fully documented and continually reviewed.
Protocols
These are written actions tailored to your practice that needs to be carried out by each member of staff on a daily basis
Auditing
To regularly check that current procedures are still effective and make changes where necessary
Universal precautions
These are precautions carried out on each and every patient irrespective of their state of health or the type of treatment they will receive.
Patient perception
The use of the words "cross infection control" (CIC) should not be taken lightly, nor should it been seen as a waste of time and money. Effective CIC means total team compliance and confidence in what they are doing, how and why.
Patient perception is more real in light of today's lifestyle, media and a more inquisitive environment. Therefore it can benefit you to highlight your actions to your patients, make them feel safe, at ease and free to ask you questions.
1. Display an infection control certificate from any training or achievements.
2. Have a display of some of the products used to help keep patients safe during treatment & explain why you use them.
3. Have an open house event
4. Talk to your patients more.
In this article, we hope to provide you with guidance on the key requirements relating to cross infection control, whilst ensuring you understand the clear reasons for such actions in protecting you, your staff, patients and all other third parties who enter you surgery.
How do I get more guidance on Infection control?
This year set yourself two goals;
Decontamination: Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices
This new guideline replaces the British Dental Associations (BDA) infection control advice sheet A12 and will be distributed to every dental practice.
Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 is intended to progressively raise the quality of decontamination work in primary care dental services by covering every core aspect of decontamination including the cleaning and disinfection of reusable instruments within dental facilities.
The BDA are planning to release an "edited" version as a new A12 advice sheet is due for release shortly.
Training
Contact a reputable organisation to get yourself and your team, regardless of whether their registered or not, fully educated on all aspects of cross infection control. You can take advice from your local PCT or deanery or you could contact schülke.
Five years ago, the Department of Health, BDA, COPDEND and schülke collaborated as part of an industry initiative to develop and launch a dedicated computer / internet based training programme for modern dental practices.
This three-hour training and education presentation enables participants to obtain an appreciation and understanding of safe and effective Cross Infection Control procedures.
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Microbiology
Section 3 - Practice & Procedures
Section 4 - Personal Protection
Section 5 - Instruments & appliances
Section 6 - In Surgery Environment
Section 7 - Other Environments
Section 8 - The Business Perspective
It examines the reasons why procedures need to be performed and explore the risks inherent in dentistry.
It is essential that all dental staff gain an understanding of the reasons why effective Cross Infection Control is fundamental to the provision of quality dental treatment.
This programme has now been updated to take account of the recent release of the HTM01-05 infection control guide from the Department of Health.
Summary
Infection control has come a long way in the last 5-10 years, yet our understanding of its importance and the need to communicate the benefits to patients is still very much misunderstood.
Whilst many opinion leaders will argue over key aspects of the decontamination process, few will question the benefits of such a process as your ability to have, manage and effectively promote your infection control policy both internally and externally will reap significant benefits.
This article was compiled and written by schülke UK Limited, leaders in infection control products and training services.