Cross Infection in the Dental Environment

The four most common routes of transfer for infectious agents being transferred within the dental environment are:

Hands
Eyes
Aerosols
Blood to blood contact (sharps injuries)

The chain of cross infection control is easily broken when simple procedures are not observed. This video illustrates how many areas within the practice can become contaminated because a simple procedure such as removing gloves after treatment is not followed.

The risk of cross infection in dentistry

The risks of cross infection in dentistry are real and there is always the potential for contamination and transmission. Saliva is a potentially infectious fluid and has transmitted Hepatitis B, Herpes and many other infections.

The most serious infections in dentistry are transmitted by blood to blood contact through accidental sharps injuries. Dentistry always has the potential to transmit infection and hence Standard Precautions (Formerly Universal Precautions) must always be observed.

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