CDA Compass Blog:
Dental Board
Amends Infection Control
Regulations
The Dental Board has amended the regulations to conform to 2008 CDC
guidelines on sterilization and disinfection and with Cal/OSHA regulations.
The amended reglations are effective August 20, 2011.
The definition of
several terms have been broadened and made to conform to CDC's use of the
terms. Definitions of new terms, "germicide," "cleaning,"
and "dental healthcare personnel" (DHCP) have been added. The
definition of DHCP include non-paid personnel, contractual personnel, and other
persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to
infectious agents.
Some of the amendments
include:
Requirement to update
periodically the written protocol for proper instrument processing, operatory
cleanliness, and management of injuries.
Requirement to wear
personal protective equipment for disinfection, sterilization, and
housekeeping procedures involving the use of germicides or handling
contaminated items.
Eliminating the
condition "if contaminated" from the requirement to change and
dispose of masks and to clean and disinfect face shield and protective
eyewear after each patient treatment.
Requirement to wear
heavy-duty utility gloves when processing contaminated instrument, needles,
and devices.
Requirement all
germicides be used in accordance with intended use and label.
Requirement to clean
items and surfaces before disinfecting or sterilizing them.
Requirement for
heat-sensitive items to be packaged or wrapped upon completion of the
disinfection process.
Requirement to label
package of sterilized items with date of sterilization and sterilizer used if
more than one sterilizer is utilized in the practice.
The new regulations must
be posted in a dental practice. You can download a copy of the regulation here. The Dental Board's web site has documents with its rationale for
amending the regulations, if you are curious to see them. The regulations
were last amended in 2005.
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