![]() This can be accomplished by referring the patient to her / his family physician for consultation, assessment of risk factors and any blood tests that are considered necessary. Every reasonable effort should be made to obtain the patient’s informed consent to be tested for HBV, HCV and HIV. If the patient’s HBV, HCV or HIV status is unknown, or if the patient presents with known risk factors, then her / his co-operation should be sought to clarify such information. However, in all cases involving a significant exposure, the dentist must assess the source patient’s status and risk for blood-borne illnesses by reviewing the medical history and, if necessary, asking her / him additional questions. Any kind of occupational injury must be reported to a dentist in the practice. ![]() For exposures involving non-intact skin, wash the site with soap and water.For exposures involving the eyes, nose or mouth, flush the area with copious amounts of water.Then, gently wash the wound with soap and water, and bandage as needed. For percutaneous injuries, allow the wound to bleed briefly and freely.In the event of a significant exposure, immediate first-aid measures must be instituted: However, percutaneous injuries pose the greatest risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens to OHCWs. Significant exposures include percutaneous injuries with contaminated needles, burs or other sharp instruments, as well as incidents in which blood, saliva or other body fluids are splashed on to non-intact skin or the mucosa of the eyes, nose or mouth. All OHCWs must know the dental office’s exposure prevention policies and exposure management protocol and review them periodically. For this reason, an exposure management protocol is an important component of an Office Manual. Significant exposures must be handled in a prompt and organized fashion. When should hand hygiene be performed?īlood-borne pathogens, such as HBV, HCV and HIV, can be transmitted to OHCWs through occupational exposures to blood, saliva and other body fluids. At the end of the workday, remove all barriers and clean these surfaces. ![]() Otherwise, clean barriers must be placed before seating the next patient. Those that did must be cleaned and disinfected. Following barrier removal, the underlying surfaces must be examined to ensure they did not inadvertently become contaminated. Since barriers can become contaminated during dental procedures, they must be removed, using gloves, and discarded between patients. Barriers are particularly effective for those surfaces that are difficult to clean and disinfect, due to their shape, surface or material characteristics. multiple wipes may be required for large surfaces and equipment.Īlternatively, clinical contact surfaces and equipment can be protected from contamination by the use of barriers.they must be kept wet and discarded if they become dry.the active ingredient must be an appropriate hospital-grade disinfectant.Ideally, clinical contact surfaces and equipment should be disinfected with a cloth and disinfectant, allowing adequate wet contact time with the disinfectant, as described in the manufacturers’ instructions for use.ĭisinfectant wipes are a convenient option, but it may be difficult to achieve adequate wet contact time.Īccordingly, when using disinfectant wipes: To facilitate this, treatment areas must be well-organized and kept free of unnecessary equipment and supplies, especially on countertops. reusable containers of dental materialsĬlinical contact surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected between patients and at the end of the workday, using an appropriate hospital-grade low-level disinfectant (i.e.chairside computer keyboards and monitors.Clinical contact surfaces include (but are not limited to):
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