Regulatory Compliance
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Infection Control Do’s and Don’ts CDA Practice Support This article reviews some of the infection control topics about which CDA members have contacted Practice Support.
DO’s
Screen patients for aerosol-transmissible diseases. California dental practices have been required to conduct this screening since Cal/OSHA approved the aerosoltransmissible diseases regulation in 2009. The screening is one of four conditions dental practices must meet to be exempt from the majority of ATD regulation requirements. The other three conditions are: A written procedure for screening patients that is consistent with current CDC guidelines must be included in a practice’s injury and illness prevention plan; employees must be trained in the procedure; and aerosol-generating procedures may not be performed on a patient who is identified by the screening procedure as a possible ATD exposure risk. Provide timely training. Provide a new employee with bloodborne pathogens exposure control training before or at the time of assignment to tasks that can expose them to blood, saliva or other potentially infectious material. An experienced staff member can provide the required training by using training materials such as the dental practice’s exposure control plan, online training and relevant articles like those on the CDC website or in professional journals. The trainer must address the 14 topics required in the Cal/OSHA regulation. Offer required vaccination. Offer a new employee the hepatitis B vaccination series if their job potentially exposes them to blood, saliva or other potentially
infectious materials (OPIM). Cal/OSHA requires employers to offer the vaccination after providing the required bloodborne pathogens training and within 10 working days of the initial work assignment. The offer need not be made if the employee has previously received the vaccination series, antibody testing reveals the employee is immune or the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons. For more information on the requirement, see “Hepatitis B Vaccination: Requirement and
Recommendations.” Have required written protocols. Have written protocols for instrument processing, operatory cleanliness and injury management as required by the dental board in its infection control regulation. Dental plan auditors are known to request the protocols when auditing a practice. Sample protocols are included in CDA’s “Regulatory Compliance Manual.” Designate an infection control coordinator. This is a leadership role. A
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