Infection Prevention: Biological, Mechanical, Chemical
Infection prevention in the dental setting is so critical that refreshers and reminders are never redundant and should never be ignored.
With that piece of critical info in your head, let’s take a little test.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which of the following is considered a “critical” item?
a. periodontal scaler
b. mouth mirror
c. reusable impression tray
d. radiograph head or cone
Okay, so this isn’t really a test, but it’s got you thinking, right?
Critical items are anything that penetrates bone or tissue—periodontal scalers, surgical instruments. They have the greatest risk of transmitting infection, and they should always be heat sterilized.
So, how do you know when your critical items have been properly sterilized? Monitoring is the answer and it should include biological, mechanical, and chemical indicators.
Biological indicators (spore tests) are the most accepted form of monitoring because they directly kill resistant microorganisms. Use them at least once a week to monitor your sterilizer.
Mechanical indicators check gauges and displays, and they document sterilization pressure, temperature, and exposure time.
Chemical indicators, which come in the form of tapes, strips, or tabs, give you immediate feedback. They should be used inside every sterilization bag to ensure sterilizing chemicals have penetrated to the instruments.
You might consider sharing these points with your patients to reassure them about your infection prevention practices.
You also might consider conducting an in-service with your staff to make sure you’re following all of the current evidence-based practices—such as the CDC’s recommendations—for protecting them and your patients. And you may have some of the same questions about infection control as your colleagues. OSAP has collected several FAQs you might find helpful.
To aid in your infection prevention efforts, check out all the products featured in our sterilization category.