University of Dentistry DN12: Cross Infection Prevention Assignment

This assignment solution addresses the crucial topic of cross-infection prevention in a dental setting, covering a range of essential aspects. It begins by outlining four key methods of preventing cross-infection and explains their connection to standard infection control policies and procedures. The solution includes a reflective analysis on preparing a clinical area to control cross-infection, detailing aspects such as cleanliness, disinfection, and sterilization. It defines the causes and routes of transmission for microorganisms, along with a table clarifying the differences between pathogens, non-pathogens, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. The assignment further explores standard precautions, the importance of dental personnel immunization, and time scales for clinical work. It details special treatment procedures for infectious patients like those with Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and Herpes simplex. The solution also provides chemical names of decontaminants used in surgery, and distinguishes between asepsis, sterilization, and disinfection. It explains infection transmission methods, measures to prevent cross-infection, and management of blood and body fluid spillage. Furthermore, it covers social cleanliness, clinical and aseptic hand hygiene procedures, barrier techniques including zoning, the importance of record keeping, PPE, and the disposal procedures for clinical and non-clinical waste.

DN12

QUESTIONS
Four methods of preventing cross infection and explain how they link to principles of standard
infection control policy and procedures
Four methods of cross infection: -
 Cross infections can be preventing by cutting immediately instrument and needles after
using.
 To control cross infection local authority should ensure about cleanness, disinfections,
sterilization and disposals of used instruments like injections.
 If sterilization is not possible or available, then use single instrument.
 Wear proper gloves and marks while operating patients.
Write a reflection on how to prepare your clinical area to control cross infection
Description To prevent my clinic from cross infections I will make sure of
cleanness, disinfections, sterilization and I also dispose instrument after
use.
Feeling When I am conducting all above mentioned topics I will feel happy and
safe that I am also able to prevent from infections.
Evaluation For evaluation of this I will ask to my seniors to inspect clinical area in
effective manner.
Analysis During preparing my clinical area cross infection free I analysis that by
this my patents are getting cure from disease in effective and fast
manner. along with this my staff health is also become effective and
appropriate.
Conclusion After conducting all activities of cleansing and securing my clinic work
I able to understand that if a person wants to prevent from cross
infection they able to conduct these type of activities in effective and
efficient manner.
Action Plan For this my action plan is that I will conduct cleaning and sanitising
activities in regular manner so that my clinic will become cross

infection free in effective and efficient manner.
Describe the causes of cross infection and explain the routes of transmission for microorganisms.
Causes: Main cause of cross infection if lack of cleanness, sterilization and no disposal of used
instruments.
Routes: Routes which causes cross infection are airborne microorganisms and directly contact
with oral mucosa and other bacteria.
Complete the table below, explaining what each term stands for, whether they are infectious/non-
infectious and give an example of each and how they are transmitted
Term Infections/ Non
Infections
Explain what they
are
Example
Pathogen Infections It refers to tiny
bacteria which makes
people ill. They
mainly find in sewage,
hospital waste etc.
Blood borne pathogens
which cause HIV,
HBV.
Non- Pathogen Non Infection These pathogens
didn’t cause disease,
harm and death of a
person.
Non-pathogenic E. coli
(Bacteria)
Bacteria Infections It is a type of
biological cell which
is a part of huge group
of unicellular
microorganism.
Lactobacillus
acidophilus
Virus Infections It also refers to a
biological agent which
is represent within a
lining body.
Hepatitis B
Fungi Non Infection It refers to a Candida and

eukaryotic organism
such as yeast and
mushroom.
Cryptococcus yeast
Spores Infections It refers to unsexual
reproduction which
produced through non
flowering plants, plans
and fungi.
Anthrax disease
Meaning of standard precautions and what practice policies state about cross infection
It refers to a practices which leads and ensure minimum infection at all hospitals and
patients cares. According to this there are some practices that is followed by all patient’s cares
are: -
 Regularly clean hand, majorly before and after operating patients.
 Dentist who going to operate patients must wear gloves, mask for covering mouth as well
as nose and also cover hairs.
 If any person is sick they must avoid close contact with others.
Reason why dental personnel need to be immunised against certain diseases
It is essential for dental person to take immunised against certain disease so that they
prevent themselves from disease which may affect their health. This is so because dental have to
contact to various person.
What is the time scale in relation to immunisations and being able to start clinical work? Give
reasons.
Time scale which is required for immunisation is approx. two weeks. Along with this
time scale which is required to for start clinical work is after getting graduate in respective area
like dental. This is so because by this they able to operate their patients in effective and efficient
manner.

Special treatment procedure for infectious patients
 Hepatitis: This disease can be transmitted through one person to another by blood contact. So
it is responsibility of clinic staff to take and ensure preventions factors, along with this they must
develop history record of patients in order to treat them in effective way.
 Tuberculosis: In this dentist must develop record of patient’s history and advise them to take
vaccination of it. Along with this they also provide guidelines of reducing risk of pathogens
which cause respective disease.
 HIV /AIDS: In this dentist do practices like they use rubber dams which help in resolving
dentistry whenever it required and they also conduct test of patients and consult with some
designated person of hospital.
 Herpes simplex type 1: While treating these patient’s dentist does disposal of used
instruments in order to avoid cross transmutation.
Chemical names of four of the decontaminants used in surgery
Decontamination Use Effective Against
Alcohol
It is use to reduce activation in
bacteria.
in treatment of oral cancer,
periodontal disease
Chlorine and Chlorine
compound
This is use for reduce
infection from tonometer
heads.
Use for treatment of Tuber
culocidal.
Glutaraldehyde This is used as highly
disinfectant and chemical
sterilant.
To clean operating equipment
like endoscopes.
Hydrogen Peroxide It is use during operating
patients to stabilizing
hydrogen peroxide.
Use while operating patients.
Describe the following and give examples of the different methods
Clinical Sterilisation  Conduct sterilization through steam pressure or they
can conduct chemical claving.
Industrial Sterilisation  It can be done through disinfectant or antimicrobial

agents.
Disinfection  It can be done through use of alcohol, chorine or its
compound and many others components.
What is the difference between asepsis, sterilization and disinfection?
Asepsis Sterilization Disinfection
It is a process which is used
to reduce or Destroy growth
of microorganism on living
bodies.
It refers to a process used to
kill microbes and it is done
through chemical or machines.
It refers to a technique in
which elimination of
microorganism can reduce.
It can be done through
various ways such as
washing hands on regular
basis, use gloves and marks.
It can be reducing by using hot
air oven, chemical, flaming
and many more.
Use fresh vegetable and stop
occurrence of fungal.
What are the infection transmission methods?
There are five mode or methods through which infection can be transmitted, three major of
them are mentioned below: -
 Direct Contact: In this infection can be transmitted from one person or animal body to
another body.
 Indirect Contact or Fomite: In this any person use things such as cloth, equipment etc. of
a contaminated person due to which they get suffer from infections.
 Airborne: It is a method in which infection is transmitted through dust or air. Infection
which cause through this is stay for a long time.
Explain the measures for preventing cross infection
There are several methods through cross infections can be avoid or prevent:
 Clean hand before and after seeing patients.
 Use gloves and marks to cover hands, nose and mouth while operating patents.
 If a person is suffering from any disease they must avoid contacting close to another
person.

The management of blood and body fluid spillage
The management of blood of patents is a multidisciplinary method which is done of for
those patients who need for blood transfusion. Along with this body fluid spillage can be manage
through cleaning surface by mopping and after it using chlorine so that bacteria and virus can be
kill.
What is social cleanliness and explain how to achieve it?
It is a method which include cleaning by using shop substances and alcohol. Along with
this it will ensure standard of cleaning. It can be done through using proper cleaning substances
such as shop, hand wash, alcohol and many other. Use gloves and mask while operating a patents
and meeting sick peoples.
What are the clinical and aseptic hand hygiene procedures in surgery?
Clinical and aseptic hand hygiene procedure in surgery are doctor must clean their hand
before and after surgery with hand wash and hand sensitizer. By this they able to remove or kill
all bacteria’s which can cause cross infection.
Describe the barrier techniques including zoning
There are various barriers techniques of creating hygiene at clinical area, some of them
are explain below: -
 Zoning: It refers to a way through which one can reduce cross contamination within
dental surgery by cleaning work area. By this a person can reduce risk of infection
through clean instrument.
 Clean hand and cloth: It is necessary that doctor must clean their hands after and before
treating patents. Along with this they must always wear clean as well as dry cloths.
What is the importance of record keeping in relation to cross infection?
It is necessary to develop record keeping of patients in respect of cross infection so that surgeon
or doctor know each and every thing about their patients in order to treat them in effective and
efficient manner. It includes information related patient’s disease, about family, medical history
and many others.

Explain what PPE stands for and give example
PPE stands for personal protection equipment which is used in surgery such as clothing,
equipment, tools and many more. In respect of dentist it is a tool or techniques which is used to
reduce infection during dental surgery.
Give examples of clinical and non-clinical waste
Example of Clinical waste: Bloods and other fluid, drugs, pharmaceutical products, injections,
sharp instruments, blood-borne pathogens, infectiousness materials, pathological and micro
biologic waste, disposable gauze, gloves, patients bibs and more.
Example of Non Clinical waste: X-ray film, X-ray processing chemical, mercury containing
thermometers, fluorescent light tubes, batteries, lead foils, acid etch and other hazardous waste.
Describe how the sharps disposal procedure should be
Sharpe equipment process must be dispose in proper manner so that it should not it
should not affect any other person.