Understanding Infection Prevention and Control

PPE is not the First Defence

Working in dentistry has always presented risk due to the possibility of disease transmission. To best protect your patients, coworkers and yourself, you need to understand how diseases are transmitted and how to prevent transmission.

Chain of Infection

Understanding the Chain of Infection is important. This is a chain that is meant to be broken to stop the disease from spreading. Disease transmission is more likely to happen when a practitioner does not have a clear understanding of how to break the Chain of Infection. You will note that while personal protective equipment (PPE) is one tool to break the chain, there are other precautions you must consider as a line of defence.

Pathogen

infectious agent capable of carrying the disease – bacteria, fungi, viruses, prions

Break the Chain through

• understanding infection prevention policies and procedures
• sanitizing or cleaning
• disinfecting
• sterilizing

Reservoirs

in people, equipment, water

Break the Chain through

• patient screening
• reducing the number of staff/patients in contact with each other
• handwashing
• housekeeping
• flushing lines

Portals of Exit

blood, saliva, skin, excretion, aerosols

Break the Chain through

• reduction of aerosols – use of high-volume evacuation and dental dam isolation
• patient/ staff isolation
• respiratory etiquette
• hand washing
• PPE

Modes of Transmission

can be direct or indirect-physical, contact, droplets, airborne

Break the Chain through

• proper PPE fit
• properly donning and doffing PPE
• handwashing
• cleaning, disinfection and sterilization
• redesign or rearrange workplace settings

Portals of Entry

mucous membrane, respiratory system, digestive system, broken skin

Break the Chain through

• handwashing
• PPE
• covering wounds
• physical distancing

Susceptible Host

immune deficient, diabetes, age, surgery

Break the Chain through

• screening patient/staff for level of risk
• stress reduction
• diet and exercise
• immunizations when possible
• intact skin

Use PPE Effectively

If you don’t wear, don and doff PPE properly it will not break the chain. Have a co-worker support you as they watch you put on and take off your PPE. They may notice a breach in infection control practices that you are not aware of.

You also must choose PPE that is appropriate to the level of risk. The Point of Care Risk Assessment can help determine if the task you are about to perform is complying with routine practices guidelines. You will find the Point of Care Risk Assessment in the IPC Guidelines at Appendix D.

Infection Prevention and Control

We – every dental practitioner – must be diligent in applying infection prevention and control practices. Every community dental practice should already have their own Infection Prevention and Control Manual that includes policies specific to the practice. Refer to your manual often. Does it need to be updated? Are there topics missing from it?

If you don’t apply the basics of proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, it won’t matter what type of PPE you are wearing. If a surface contains pathogens due to an unclean environment and you touch it while wearing gloves, your glove will continue to transfer the pathogen. If you use an N95 respirator (or equivalent) and don’t have it properly fit tested, you may as well wear any surgical mask that also doesn’t seal.

Understand Why

You need to know why you are doing what you are doing.

• What is the purpose of a face shield as compared to safety glasses?
• If you wear safety glasses, do you ensure that you wash your face before leaving work each day?
• Do you understand the modes of transmission and how an aerosol procedure is different than sitting in an operatory recording information during an exam?
• Are you looking at the manufacturer’s instructions for use for all products you are using?
• Does a disinfectant require a specific amount of contact time to be effective?

Now, more than ever, we all need to look at our habits and find ways that we can work as a team to educate ourselves about infection prevention and control. The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta’s IPC Standards and the emails we send you with updates to guidelines for practice are resources to help you. Stay informed. Work as a team to support each other in protecting the public and yourselves. Look at methods to reduce risk through engineering and environmental controls. Always put your patients’ safety first.