Biomedical subjects

Jennifer A Harte

Publications and source records attributed to Jennifer A Harte.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Characteristics of infection control programs in U.S. Air Force dental clinics: a survey.

BACKGROUND: National organizations and regulatory agencies have issued a number of guidelines on proper infection control procedures in dentistry. The objective of the authors' research was to gather information about current infection control practices in U.S. Air Force (USAF) Dental Corps clinics for the purpose of updating previously issued guidelines and developing infection control training programs. METHODS: The authors mailed a 60-item self-administered survey to the commanders of all USAF dental clinics located in the United States and overseas (n=82). The survey used primarily fixed-response questions to gather information about aspects of the clinics' infection control programs. The authors obtained descriptive statistics of the returned data by means of a statistical software package. RESULTS: The results indicated a high degree of compliance with existing USAF dental infection control guidelines. All clinics had personnel assigned to manage their programs, had a written exposure control plan and took measures to improve dental unit water quality. Facilities used a number of approaches to achieve and monitor compliance and exhibited a considerable amount of variation in infection control procedures when specific guidelines did not exist. CONCLUSIONS: In general, USAF dental clinics reported high levels of compliance with current infection control policies and procedures. Recurrent training, continual oversight, a highly motivated staff and teamwork are essential for reaching and maintaining these levels. Clinical Implications. Although compliance with recommended infection control guidelines is challenging, the results of this survey indicate that compliance is achievable, even in large group practices.

Dental Clinics↗

PubMed2004

Guidelines for infection control in dental health care settings--2003.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, is the lead federal agency for disease prevention in the United States. It has been 10 years since CDC infection control guidelines for dental health care settings were last published. During those 10 years, new technologies and issues have emerged, and other CDC infection control guidelines for health care settings have been updated. RESULTS: In light of these developments, CDC collaborated with experts in infection control to revise its infection control recommendations for dental health care settings. Existing guidelines and published research pertinent to dental infection control principles and practices were reviewed. This article provides background information, describes the process used to create these guidelines, and lists the new recommendations. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: CDC believes that dental offices that follow these new recommendations will strengthen an already admirable record of safe dental practice. Patients and providers alike can be assured that oral health care can be delivered and received in a safe manner.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗

PubMed2004

Sterilization update 2003.

Instrument processing is a key part of the office infection control program. Each step in the process must be performed correctly to help ensure patient safety. The instrument processing area must be organized so that contaminated items are not confused with sterilized items, and so that sterilized items do not accidentally become recontaminated. Instruments need to be cleaned completely of visible debris using an ultrasonic cleaner or instrument washer. The cleaned instruments are packaged before sterilization to protect them from recontamination until they are opened for use for the next patient. Processing the packaged instruments through a heat sterilizer (steam, dry heat, or unsaturated chemical vapor) kills any microbes that remain on the instruments. The sterile packages are handled and stored in a manner that preserves the integrity of the packaging material. The use and functioning of the sterilizer is monitored by mechanical, chemical, and biological means, and records are kept to document these evaluations. Sterilization failures are addressed carefully so that patient safety can be maintained.

Dental Instruments↗

PubMed2004

Looking inside the 2003 CDC dental infection control guidelines.

On Dec. 19, 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published updated infection control guidelines for dentistry. The guidelines provide comprehensive information on all aspects of dental infection control. The recommendations are designed to prevent or reduce the potential for disease transmission from patient to dental health care personnel, from dental health care personnel to patient, and from patient to patient. Most recommendations will be familiar and are already practiced routinely. This article highlights major updates and additions in the CDC guidelines and provides additional information to assist readers in applying the latest guidelines. Almost a year ago, the CDC and Prevention published updated dental infection control guidelines in a supplement to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care Settings--2003 represent a collaborative effort between leading experts in infection control from other federal agencies, public health, and hospital epidemiology and infection control. Unlike regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the CDC cannot mandate certain practices; it can only recommend. However, the CDC is recognized as the nation's disease prevention agency and develops a broad range of guidelines intended to improve health care and to inform clinicians and the public. As a result, many dental licensing boards adopt CDC's recommendations, or variations of them, as the infection control standard for dental practice in their states. In contrast to the 1986 and 1993 CDC dental infection control recommendations, the 2003 CDC publication includes more background information and the scientific rationale for the recommendations. Also, readers will notice that each recommendation has a rank assigned to it categorizing the recommendation on the basis of existing scientific data, theoretical rationale, and applicability (Table 1). Most recommendations will be familiar and already are practiced routinely. As with previous CDC recommendations, the guidelines are designed to prevent or reduce the potential for disease transmission from patient to dental health care personnel; from dental health care personnel to patient, and from patient to patient. The following is an overview highlighting major updates and additions in the 2003 CDC guidelines. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review. Readers can access the complete document (Figure 1) by visiting www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/ infectioncontrol.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗

PubMed2003

Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings--2003.

This report consolidates previous recommendations and adds new ones for infection control in dental settings. Recommendations are provided regarding 1) educating and protecting dental health-care personnel; 2) preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens; 3) hand hygiene; 4) personal protective equipment; 5) contact dermatitis and latex hypersensitivity; 6) sterilization and disinfection of patient-care items; 7) environmental infection control; 8) dental unit waterlines, biofilm, and water quality; and 9) special considerations (e.g., dental handpieces and other devices, radiology, parenteral medications, oral surgical procedures, and dental laboratories). These recommendations were developed in collaboration with and after review by authorities on infection control from CDC and other public agencies, academia, and private and professional organizations.

Dentistry↗