1 Essentials of infection control
Why do we need infection control in dentistry?
Relative risk and risk perception
Risk assessment and the management decision making process
How to perform a risk assessment in a dental practice
Hierarchy of risk management control
Infection control and the law
Legal acts under which dental practice is conducted
Published standards and guidance
Team approach to prevention of infection

2 Communicable diseases in the dental surgery
How infections are spread
Reservoirs and sources of infection
Infectious diseases by route of infection in dentistry
Infectious disease by route of transmission in the dental surgery
Emerging and re emerging pathogens

3 Occupational health and immunization
Occupational health hazards
Building a culture of safety
Organizing staff health in a dental practice
Immunization requirements for dentistry
Protecting women of childbearing age
Occupational vaccines to protect against hepatitis and TB
Health checks and the consequences of blood borne virus infection
Health clearance
Duty of care to patients

4 Sharp safe working in the dental surgery
Why sharps prevention is important
When do sharps injuries occur?
Preventable sharps injuries
How to avoid a sharps injury
Managing sharps injuries and splashes
Occupational health risk assessment for BBV exposure
Management of hepatitis C exposures
Postexposure prophylaxis for HIV and hepatitis B
Recording of sharps injuries
Clinical governance and accident risk assessment

5 Hand hygiene
Hands as a source of infection
Hands as a source of hospital acquired infection
Hand hygiene and teamworking
Hand hygiene technique
Hand care and prevention of dermatitis

6 Personal protection for prevention of cross infection
Why we wear personal protective equipment
The role of gloves
Choosing a suitable glove for the task
Managing an allergy to NRL gloves
Managing latex allergies in patients
Masks and when to use them
Protective eyewear and visors
Protection during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Tunics and uniforms
Protective barriers – plastic aprons and surgical gowns

7 Sterilization and disinfection of dental instruments
Decontamination cycle
Why has cleaning become so important?
Legal requirements and technical standards for decontamination
Where should instrument decontamination take place?
Design of dedicated decontamination units
Purchasing of dental equipment
Cleaning of dental instruments
Disinfection of dental handpieces
Mechanical cleaning with an ultrasonic bath
Thermal washer disinfectors
Instrument inspection
Dental instrument sterilization
Suitability of sterilizer for different loads
Sterilizer installation and validation
Steam purity and maintenance of water reservoir chamber
How do you know your sterilizer is working?
Loading the sterilizer
Storage of wrapped and unwrapped instruments
Single use items
Variant CJD and rationale for single use items
Disinfection of heat sensitive equipment and hard surfaces
Disinfection of dental impressions

8 Dental surgery design, surface decontamination and managing aerosols
Dental surgery design
Survival of microbes on surgery surfaces
General cleaning
Surface decontamination in the dental surgery
Management of aerosols and splatter
Managing large blood or body fluid spillages

9 Management of dental unit waterlines
What are biofilms?
Risk to staff and patient health from dental unit waterlines
Methods to reduce the biofilm
Control of legionellae in the dental practice water supply

10 Healthcare waste management
Legislation on hazardous waste disposal
Types of waste
What is hazardous waste?
Clinical waste segregation and classification
Amalgam waste and installation of amalgam separators
Mercury in the environment
Disposal and handling of hazardous waste in the surgery
Safe handling of clinical waste prior to disposal
Bulk storage of waste for collection
Transport of hazardous waste
Benefits of waste segregation

11 Transport and postage of diagnostic specimens, impressions and equipment for servicing and repair
Legal framework
Collecting specimens
Transport of specimens to the laboratory
Transport restrictions
Fixed pathological specimens
Transporting impressions
Equipment to be sent for service or repair
Appendix
Table A.1 Daily infection control clinical pathway
Table A.2 Decontamination methods for specific instruments and items of dental equipment
Table A.3 Examples of hand and hard surface disinfectants and dental unit waterline biocides