Overview
Although the principles
of infection control remain unchanged, new technologies, materials,
equipment, and data require continuous evaluation of current
infection-control practices. The unique nature of many dental procedures,
instrumentation, and patient-care settings also may require specific
strategies directed to preventing the transmission of pathogens among
dental healthcare workers and their patients. Recommended
infection control practices are applicable to all settings in which dental
treatment is provided.
More Information on Infection Control
Featured Items
Safe Injection Practices in Dentistry
Safe injection practices are a set of measures clinicians should follow to
perform injections in an optimally safe manner for patients, health care
personnel, and others. CDC reminds dental practitioners of the safe
injection practices that are critical for patient safety.
Prevention of
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Dental
Health Care Settings*
In health care settings, MRSA most often is spread indirectly from patient
to patient on the transiently contaminated hands of health care
professionals. Standard Precautions has been shown to be an effective
strategy in preventing transmission. Learn more at CDC’s
About MRSA Skin
Infections.
Prevention of 2009 H1N1 Influenza
Transmission in Dental Health Care Settings (11/23/09)
CDC provides updated guidance on preventing 2009 H1N1 influenza transmission
in dental health care settings. Guidance includes new recommendations on
using airborne infection isolation rooms, N95 respirators, and infection
control measures for personnel with influenza-like illness.
Tuberculosis Infection Control Recommendations
The changing epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) and discovery of new diagnostic
methods prompted a revision of CDC's guidelines to prevent TB transmission in
healthcare settings. View CDC’s
TB infection control
recommendations for dental settings* and learn how they should be
incorporated into an infection control program. Related link:
Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
Health-Care Settings, 2005.
Patient-to-patient Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Associated with
Oral Surgery
The Journal of Infectious Diseases describes the first documented case of
patient-to-patient hepatitis B virus transmission in a dental
office.
Educational Materials
Slide Presentation for Infection Control
Guidelines
This slide set and accompanying speaker notes provide an overview
of many of the basic principles of infection control in the CDC
Guidelines for Infection Control in
Dental Health-Care Settings. It can be downloaded as a PowerPoint
presentation or viewed on the Web site.
If Saliva Were Red:
A Visual Lesson on Infection Control*
The video training system,
If Saliva
Were Red, features an 8-minute video (VHS, CD-ROM) that uses dental
professionals to highlight common infection control and safety flaws; the cross
contamination dental workers would see if saliva were red; and how controlling
contamination by using personal barrier protection, safe work practices, and
effective infection control products reduces the risk of exposure.
From
Policy to Practice: OSAP's Guide to the Guidelines*
The Organization for Safety & Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) has produced this
170-page workbook, which contains practical information to help health care
professionals put the infection control recommendations into practice. These
resources were produced by OSAP through a CDC cooperative agreement.
Related Links
* Links to non-Federal organizations are
provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an
endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none
should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual
organization Web pages found at this link.
Page last reviewed: August 31, 2012
Page last modified: August 31, 2012
Content source:
Division of Oral Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |