Infection Control Archives

The Coronavirus is very newsworthy at this point, but it is also very important to realize that during the 2018-19 influenza season, the United States reported an estimated 16.5 million people went to a health care provider for the flu, and more than 34,000 people died in the U.S. We need to keep a focusRead more…

There are many processes that must be followed in order to stop the spread of infection and prevent susceptible individuals from becoming ill. The individual could be the patient or the worker. In order to reduce the likelihood of spreading infection, remember these three important concepts. First Do No Harm Patient safety must always beRead more…

The measles outbreak continues. Cases have been confirmed in 30 states. As of July 25, 2019, there have been 1,164 cases reported, which is the largest reported number of cases since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. In order to address this ongoing issue, the CDC published additional guidance in July toRead more…

To date, we have focused on the cleaning process and the importance of ensuring instruments are adequately cleaned and appropriately wrapped or packaged. April’s article ended with loading the sterilizer appropriately.  This month we will discuss the actual instrument sterilization process. The Sterilization Process Sterilization can be defined as the process of making an objectRead more…

In case you haven’t heard, we have a record number of measles cases documented in the US. At this point over 700 cases in 22 states have been reported, which is the highest number of cases since 2000, the year the disease was reported eliminated. Healthcare workers are considered at risk for exposure. Have youRead more…

Until recent years the risk of being exposed to measles was not the first illnesses to come to mind when considering the risk of disease transmission from patients to healthcare workers. Even now there are reported outbreaks in many states of both measles and mumps. One can no longer be confident that during the deliveryRead more…

Instrument Preparation, Packaging Loading Last month we focused on the cleaning process and the importance of ensuring instruments are adequately cleaned prior to packaging. Before we pick up where we left off, remember that instruments should be visually inspected for cleanliness and completely dry before they are wrapped or placed in a sterilization pouch. PackagingRead more…

I can tell you my love for you will still be strong After the boys of summer have gone -Don Henley Anyone remember the song The Boys of Summer by Don Henley? We are going to move away from our summer jaunts to focus on the Bugs of Fall. It is that time of yearRead more…

Waterlines used in any dental unit that has a water supply, such as syringes and ultrasonic scalers, can become contaminated with biofilm, a coating of microorganisms. To prevent infection, the CDC recommends that dental unit water used in non-surgical procedures is maintained at the same cleanliness standard set for drinking water by the Environmental ProtectionRead more…