Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
Concurrent Education Session - 60 minutes
Phenelle Segal, RN CIC FAPIC
President
Infection Control Consulting Services
Delray Beach, Florida
Nothing to disclose
Luci Perri, RN, BSN, MSN, MPH, CIC, FAPIC
Owner/Founder
Infection Control Results
Wingate, North Carolina
Nothing to disclose
Susan Ruwe, MSN, RN, CPHQ, CIC
Senior Infection Preventionist
Carle Foundation Hospital
Argenta, Illinois
Nothing to disclose
This session discusses a detailed description of findings related to onsite observations at dental practices and oral surgery centers across the continuum of care. Practices were reviewed against the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control and Dental Health-Care Settings and Basic Expectations for Safe Care and current FDA and American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines. Examples of review metrics include but are not limited to cold chemical sterilization, instrument sterilization, dental unit waterlines, safe injection practices, use of PPE, operatory room turnover, and tips about table top sterilizers.
These onsite observations showed that individual practices consistently fall out of compliance, putting patients and employees at risk from the lack of effective disinfection, sterilization, and knowledge of IPC best practices.
This topic is important and much needed since the dental community, including oral surgery, is often overlooked and the risk of blood-borne pathogens from lack of effective disinfection and sterilization is of concern. This concern is well-founded as there have several documented outbreaks of hepatitis and bacterial infections in patients.
Participants will understand the various risk factors that are specific to dental practices and oral surgery centers and learn the steps necessary to remediate deficiencies. In addition, we will address a written dental IPC program and essential resources to enhance best practices.