Michelle Aubé(Simmonds)
Infection Control Continuing Education Program, Canada
Title: Infection prevention and control in dentistry the need for a closer look
Biography
Biography: Michelle Aubé(Simmonds)
Abstract
Taking a ‘closer look’ at simple day to day tasks in dental settings that are major contributers to breaking the chain of asepsis. Adopting a larger view on Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) from the platform of safeguarding and risk management polices that match the needs defined by the new 2016 Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Summary of Infection Control Practices in Dental Settings Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Realizing that policies from 10 years ago may not be meeting the standards of the evolving and emerging pathogens of today’s world; this lecture will review past and current trends in IPAC based on Evidence Based Decision Making (EBDM) and Best Practice approaches. This will include review of personal protective equipment, instrument processing, disinfection, sterilization, sterilization testing and quality assurance for all steps. The proper steps for bagging and/or wrapping of instruments including storage and opening for use. Definition and appropriate usage of ‘flash’ sterilization. Record keeping and logging aspects of infection control. IPAC cross references health and safety in keeping the client safe but so do the dental professionals: Assessing resources from Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), reflecting that time management and deplenished inventory are not justification for risks of cross contamination, empowering the dental team to strive for best practice in setting SMART goals based on identified issues from the CDC practice evaluation. Team leadership with the appointment of an IPAC Coordinator. Critical thinking throughout the course with stimulating true and false questions.