Purpose
To protect patients, employees, students, and visitors from exposure to infectious agents and hazardous materials by implementing evidence-based infection prevention practices and complying with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Policy
All personnel shall adhere to established infection prevention protocols and hazardous materials management procedures during all patient care, laboratory, housekeeping, and administrative activities.
Procedures
Standard Precautions
- Standard Precautions shall be used for all patients regardless of diagnosis or perceived infection status.
- All blood, saliva, and other potentially infectious materials shall be treated as infectious.
Hand Hygiene
- Hand hygiene shall be performed:
- Before and after patient contact.
- Before donning gloves and immediately after glove removal.
- After contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment.
- Handwashing shall be performed using soap and water.
- Alcohol-based hand rubs may be used when hands are not visibly contaminated.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Appropriate PPE shall be worn based on anticipated exposure risk.
- PPE may include:
- Gloves
- Masks
- Protective eyewear with side shields
- Face shields
- Protective gowns or clinic jackets
- PPE shall be removed before leaving clinical treatment areas.
Instrument Processing
- Instruments shall be cleaned, packaged, sterilized, and stored according to manufacturer instructions and CDC guidelines.
- Sterilization monitoring shall include:
- Mechanical monitoring of each cycle
- Chemical indicators with every package
- Biological spore testing at least weekly and according to state requirements
- Sterilization records shall be maintained and reviewed regularly.
Environmental Infection Control
- Clinical contact surfaces shall be disinfected between patients using EPA-registered disinfectants approved for healthcare settings.
- Surface barriers shall be replaced after each patient.
- Treatment rooms shall be prepared and disinfected according to written operatory turnover procedures.
Dental Unit Waterlines
- Waterline maintenance shall be performed according to manufacturer recommendations.
- Annual water quality monitoring wall be conducted.
- Records of testing and maintenance shall be maintained.
Hazardous Materials Management
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) shall be maintained and accessible.
- Hazardous chemicals shall be labeled and stored according to manufacturer instructions.
- Employees and students shall receive Hazard Communication training upon hire.
- Chemical spills shall be managed according to written spill response procedures.
Waste Disposal
- Regulated medical waste shall be segregated, labeled, stored, and disposed of according to California regulations.
- Sharps shall be discarded immediately into approved sharps containers.
- Hazardous waste shall be managed through approved disposal vendors.
Training and Documentation
- Infection prevention and hazardous materials training shall be provided upon hire and annually thereafter.
- Training records shall be maintained.
- Compliance audits shall be conducted periodically.