Infection Control
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March 15, 2023
Interim guidance on infection prevention and control for suspect, probable, or confirmed monkeypox within Healthcare settings*
Infection Prevention and ControlAirborne, droplet, and contact precautions should be used for all suspect, probable, and confirmed cases of monkeypox. Precautions should be used when a patient presents with fever and vesicular/pustular rash (suspected case). Any lesions or respiratory secretions should be considered infectious material.
Routine Practices
Continue to follow routine practices including:
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March 15, 2023
Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease*
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) predominantly affect infants and children under 5 years old. It's characterized by symptoms like fever, mouth sores, and a distinctive skin rash on the hands and feet, sometimes spreading to other body parts like the buttocks, legs, and arms. The disease typically lasts 7 to 10 days and is caused by viruses from the Enterovirus family, notably Coxsackievirus A16 and Coxsackievirus A6, which are common in North America, while Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) has been associated with more severe cases, especially in East and Southeast Asia.
Symptoms of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Symptoms generally manifest around 3 to 5 days after exposure, starting with fever and flu-like indications, followed by the appearance of painful mouth sores and a
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March 05, 2023A dental office reprocessing area must be organized in a one-way workflow to prevent cross-contamination. The one-way workflow is composed of stations that are linked in functionality to one another to finally achieve the end point of reprocessing; sterilization. Each station can only perform the duties of THAT station and can only host the contents of THAT station’s tasks. In ‘common practice’ vs ‘best practice’ reprocessing rooms ...
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March 01, 2023There are two main elements to the reprocessing of a dental bur. First, what does the manufacturer of the bur state to do with the bur? Is it single use or can it be reprocessed? Second, if it can be reprocessed what are the steps from end-to-end use that meet IPAC standards of practice.
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February 15, 2023
The process of disinfecting is a two-step procedure. First, the surface must be cleaned to ensure all blood, debris, and waste is removed. Second, the surface is disinfected by applying a disinfectant and letting the chemicals activate for the noted contact time to kill all bacteria, viruses and possible fungi present.
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February 14, 2023
Gloves are the most important part of any medical facility.
Why do dentists choose nitrile gloves? — Disposable nitrile gloves are part of the dental staff’s personal protection equipment (PPE) used when completing exams and procedures. They provide a barrier of protection to the skin, resistance from tears, and durability. Nitrile gloves are produced from hypoallergenic synthetic materials, making them a safe alternative for those with latex allergies.
Latex Gloves vs. Nitrile Gloves
In the past, disposable latex gloves were the standard gloves used in hospitals and dental offices in Canada. That changed several years ago as latex allergies became more common, and nitrile gloves became the alternative.
Latex gloves are
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December 08, 2022Antibiotic resistance is a global issue that requires the attention of all countries, governments, and health agencies.
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September 14, 2022In any IPAC discussion, a proper risk assessment guided by the Hierarchy of Controls and Spaulding’s Classification will never stir any IPAC guru wrong! Even with dental offices having attended countless continuing education on IPAC, there may still be lingering remnants of ‘common practice’ that require a closer look.
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July 18, 2022
Identifying pathogens to ensure proper elimination has always been part of the infection prevention and control in dentistry. The SARS CoV-2 pandemic has shown how an emerging pathogen can surface and spread globally. Emerging pathogens are defined as a new microorganism or an existing microorganism that is changing patterns. In the hopeful forward movement out of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, the Monkeypox virus has made a come back from the late 1970’s where in the 1980’s it was believed to be irradicated with successful vaccinations 1. Monkeypox virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, and includes variola virus (smallpox virus), vaccinia virus, cowpox, and other poxviruses 2. The National Library of Medicine states “the last endemic case of smallpox occurred in 1977, total eradication was confirmed in 1980” 3. “Smallpox helped to shape history, and it made history by being the first disease to be controlled by immunization and the first to be era
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June 24, 2022The transfer of these microorganisms must occur in a sequence; this sequence is what epidemiologists call the chain of infection. This chain of infection transmission can be broken by integrating controls or methods that mitigate the pathway of disease spread from person to person. This sequence must be in order for the disease to occur. The way to stop disease transmission is to interrupt this chain at any link. Knowledge of the exit and entry portals and transmission modes provides a basis for determining appropriate control measures.....