HLTINF001 - Infection Prevention and Control in Dental Assisting

This report provides a comprehensive overview of infection prevention and control policies and procedures within a dental assisting context. It covers standard precautions such as hand hygiene and contact precautions, detailing how to implement them effectively. The report also addresses risk management strategies, including identifying potential risks like exposure to infectious agents and appropriate responses such as proper cleaning and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Furthermore, it discusses key aspects of maintaining a clean healthcare environment, including cleaning protocols, sterilization techniques, and proper waste management. The document also differentiates between clean and contaminated zones within a healthcare setting, emphasizing the importance of preventing cross-contamination. References to the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines are included to support the information presented.

Running head: DENTAL ASSISTING 1
Dental Assisting
Name
Institution

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Dental Assisting
Standard precaution and how to put it into practice
Hand hygiene is one of the standard precaution and often infectious agents are often
transmitted by contact. This contact could be with a patient, the environment or the health
workers themselves. There are so many ways individuals are able to reduce the risks of the
agents. First, the five moments of health hygiene should be followed no matter how much little
time you got. Secondly, each facility has got policies on hand hygiene and every individual
should be well aware of the policy and be keen to follow it. Thirdly every situation has an
appropriate product that one should use according to the descriptions. Also, the policy of the
facility has some stated rules about cuts, abrasions, fingernails, jewelry and nail polish which
should be adhered to ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council", 2018).
Hand-care products often provided by an organization should be used because individuals may
not be able to work together with the hand-hygiene often provided. If anyone has a reaction to
hand-care and hand hygiene products respective personnel should be informed of immediate
action to be taken. Contacts with patients in the surrounding should be minimized especially the
physically. Every individual should also try in leading by example so that others would try to
emulate. To be well updated about hand hygiene, an individual should try as much as possible to
attend sessions with hand hygiene lessons. When alcohol-based products are not always
available in the hand-care stations then management should be informed of provision. These are
the several ways of reducing or preventing the risk ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical
Research Council", 2018).

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Contact precaution
Infectious agents can either be transmitted either through direct or indirect contact. To
prevent this, several contact precautions should be employed. Transmission through a direct
contact is said to have occurred when the infectious agents have been transmitted from one to
another without the immediate person or object being contaminated. On the other hand, indirect
occurs when the immediate person or object is first infected, then to another person. to apply
contact precautions one should first apply the standard precautions, for example, hand hygiene
because it prevents contact transmission. The equipment in a healthcare should be properly
handled for example they can be sterilized after use or thrown for the safety of the non-infected
person ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council", 2018). Frequent
movement of patients from one place to another increases the chances of being infected too,
therefore, it should be minimized. This helps in reducing contaminations from the environment.
Infected areas should be properly closed. An appropriate personal protective equipment should
be used depending on the occasion. Patients in a healthcare should also be properly placed to
ensure effectiveness and keep them safe from the infectious agents. This may include precautions
like keeping the charts of the patients outside of the room and maintaining hand hygiene before
getting into the patient’s room ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council",
2018).
Risk management
In this kind of a situation, the risk can be managed. In this example of a case study, many
types of risks can be identified. If the health worker had used the appropriate PPE while handling
the patient, then there are high chances of exposure of the infectious agents. PPE should be used
to prevent the transmission of the infectious agents either through direct contact, indirect contact

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or through air-borne ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council", 2018).
Possible cause of the risks is the carelessness of the health worker while carrying the container. It
should be handled with care. Infectious agents can easily be transmitted from the environment to
the patient or even to the health workers themselves. The risk can be evaluated as a high risk
because of the consequences it can pose to the individuals. After spills, the surfaces should be
properly cleaned. Use of detergents is advisable in such a case so as to deal with the spills of
blood from the bandages. Sodium hypochlorite can be used in this case to prevent blood-borne
viruses. Sharp objects should be removed using clumping objects to ensure that one is not
pierced. A spill kit should be used in this kind of case ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical
Research Council", 2018).
Risk caused by the case to other workers and how to inform others during the management
The health workers, in this case, are at a high risk of being transmitted, infectious agents.
Cuts from the sharp objects are also one of the possible risks in this case. This can be prevented
by use of the appropriate PPE in managing the situation ("NHMRC – National Health and
Medical Research Council", 2018). For example, use of gloves limits the worker from being in
direct contact with the contaminated surface. Posters should be placed on the noticeboard to
warn the other workers and patient about the damage and to direct them in another way in. A
session should be held in which cleaning skills are enhanced so as to cope up with such a case.
Key points in cleaning the healthcare work environment
PPE is worn when there is a high risk of contamination in a certain area. PPE is often
designed for a given protected area and should not be worn outside that area. It is often worn by
health workers when dealing with patients or when doing a routine cleaning in a healthcare unit.

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Normal detergent is often used for routine cleaning of healthcare station but when there is soiling
of surfaces due to blood, body fluid contamination with dust or the presence of infectious agents
then disinfectants may be used to stop blood-borne diseases and stop the transmission of the
infectious agents. The surface is first cleaned with a detergent solution then followed by a
disinfectant. When cleaning general surfaces, a detergent is often used. This may include
surfaces like the walls and surfaces that are frequently touched ("NHMRC – National Health and
Medical Research Council", 2018).
Sterilization
Sterilization help in destroying the microorganisms that might be present on the surface of
the device or an instrument. this helps in preventing the transmission of a disease associated with
that device. One way of sterilization is by using steam. Another way is by using a low-
temperature sterilization method. There is the reprocessing of items that are heat resistant.
Reprocessing of items that are moisture sensitive and heat sensitive often require a technology
with low temperatures. Dry and sterile equipment should be stored in a clean and dry
environment away from sharp objects that might destroy their packaging. Equipment should also
be stored according to their reprocessing ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research
Council", 2018).
The use of PPE
PPE is often used in a restricted environment when handling patients or when handling
certain equipment to prevent the transmission of an infectious disease. PPE is a protective
measure that is taken in a health care station to ensure the patient’s safety. Health workers
always use PPE to avoid direct contact of transmission to a patient in case of a contamination

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("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council", 2018). Staff is often provided
with clothing in a high risk of contamination areas. They are therefore advised to remove it
before leaving the room. In a low-risk contamination area, a cloth that is in contact with the
patients should not be worn outside that area. PPE should not be worn inappropriately, for
example, wearing it in a public place or rather a place outside the facility. The environment is
also contaminated with infectious agents and this will put the patients at a high risk ("NHMRC –
National Health and Medical Research Council", 2018).
Waste management
Standard precautions should be followed when handling waste. This is done to prevent
exposure to blood and many other body substances when handling the waste. Hands should be
washed thoroughly following the required procedure. One should also choose the appropriate
PPE, for example, the gloves. Color coding helps in identifying the type of waste, to place in a
certain container. Waste should be put in the segregated area. This will help reduce the risks.
Clinical waste should be disposed of according to health care waste management plan. Waste in
a health care should be handled properly and the workers should be taught the various ways of
handling waste ("NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council", 2018).
Purpose of a clean zone
A clean zone is an area out of the contaminated zone where medicaments, equipment, and
materials are stored. This area often consists of a patient record or charts, desk, computer area or
a workstation ("audiometry - clinicinfectioncontrol", 2018). Sterilized instruments in this area
should never come in contact with contaminated instruments. A clean zone always contains
organisms that are new to the patient and are always dangerous to the patient if they are

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transmitted from the clean zone directly to the patient through the hands. This is why hand
hygiene should be performed whenever staff moves between the patient and a clean zone. This is
one way of ensuring that there is no transmission of an infection.
Purpose of a contaminated zone
A contaminated zone is an area where the items that are contaminated are used. This often
consists of patients, an item that has been touched during the procedure and the area or surface
receiving the contaminated items. This zone is always contaminated with either the patient’s
blood or saliva that might have spilled during the operation ("audiometry -
clinicinfectioncontrol", 2018). All the surfaces and items in this zone should be sterilized or
clean after each patient to prevent transmission. All the contaminated instruments should be
confined in this contaminated zone. Some of the contaminated items should be disposed of after
use.

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References
audiometry - clinicinfectioncontrol. (2018). Audiometry.sydneyinstitute.wikispaces.net. Retrieved
23 April 2018, from
http://audiometry.sydneyinstitute.wikispaces.net/clinicinfectioncontrol
NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council. (2018). Healthdirect.gov.au.
Retrieved 23 April 2018, from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/partners/nhmrc-national-
health-and-medical-research-council

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