_______________________________ Infection Control for Dental Professionals: The California Requirement
TRAINING AND EDUCATION Dental personnel should also fulfill all federal and state requirements for infection control training. New employees, or employees being transferred into jobs involving tasks or activities with potential exposure to blood or OPIM, must receive bloodborne pathogen training before assignment to tasks in which an occupational exposure may occur. Retraining is required annually or when changes in procedures or tasks affecting occupational exposure occur. Employees should be provided access to a qualified trainer to answer questions dur- ing the training session [9; 10]. CONCLUSION Effective infection control techniques are critical to reducing the incidence of infections in dental facilities. Antiseptic tech- niques and antibiotics will kill micro-organisms, while proper hand hygiene will block their transmission. Gloves, gowns, and masks remove DHCP from the transmission cycle by protecting them from contact with micro-organisms. Transmission-Based Precautions and isolation techniques help patients avoid being vectors of transmission. Engineering controls help to make the workplace safer, while administrative controls ensure that written protocols are in place and followed. Lastly, ensuring that all DHCP are immune or vaccinated can help decrease the availability of potential hosts. DENTAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA GENERAL PROVISIONS: SECTION 1005. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR INFECTION CONTROL The Dental Board of California General Provisions: Section 1005. Minimum Standards for Infection Control is avail- able online at https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/ IDB85BD734C8111EC89E5000D3A7C4BC3.
The high risk of hepatitis B virus exposure among healthcare personnel makes it imperative that clinical dental personnel be vaccinated. Vaccination can protect both workers and patients from hepatitis B virus infection and, whenever possible, should be completed when dentists or other dental care personnel are in training [10]. Influenza Influenza is primarily transmitted from person to person via large, virus-laden droplets generated when infected persons cough or sneeze. These large droplets can settle on the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tracts of susceptible persons who are within 3 feet of infected persons. Transmission may also occur through direct contact or indirect contact with respiratory secretions, such as when touching surfaces contami- nated with influenza virus and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. The CDC strongly recommends that all healthcare personnel, especially those who have contact with patients at high risk, who have high-risk medical conditions, or who are older than 50 years of age, receive an annual (seasonal) influenza vaccination [24]. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella is typically given in a single combination vaccine. The CDC notes that, regardless of birth year, individuals should receive two doses of measles, two doses of mumps, and one dose of rubella live-virus vaccine to be considered protected. MMR is given in a series of two injections, at least 28 days apart. Because the vaccine is often combination, most individuals will receive two doses of rubella-containing vaccine, with no adverse effect [24].
Tetanus and Diphtheria (Toxoids) and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
Vaccination for tetanus is recommended for all DHCP, regard- less of age. The CDC recommends receiving the vaccine as soon as feasible if Tdap has not already been received, and regardless of interval from the last tetanus and diphtheria (Td) immunization. Routine boosters are recommended every 10 years thereafter [24]. Varicella The varicella-zoster virus is responsible for chickenpox and shingles. The CDC recommends the varicella-zoster vaccine for all DHCP who do not have evidence of immunity, defined as: written documentation of two doses of varicella vaccine; laboratory evidence of immunity or confirmation of disease; diagnosis or verification of acute disease by a health-care pro- vider; or diagnosis or verification of herpes zoster by a health- care provider. While the varicella vaccine is recommended, the CDC does note that serologic testing before vaccination is likely to be cost-effective, as 71% to 93% of adults without a history of varicella are immune [24]. Immunization is con- sidered complete after a series of two doses, spaced four to eight weeks apart [24].
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/CA-Dental_Infection
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