Page 17 - Compendium Chapters for Course 1 (IC, DPA, OSHA)

The principle factor that determines the level of each disinfectant product is its ability to kill the benchmark illness our profession deals with regularly – Tuberculosis.
In addition, the term germicide is also defined in the regulations:
(8) “Germicide” is a chemical agent that can be used to disinfect items and surfaces based on the level of contamination.
CAUTION WHEN USING DISINFECTANTS
Regardless of the product selected, be certain to follow exactly all of the manufacturer’s directions for mixing and diluting; proper application shelf-life, activated use-life and reuse-life, and all safety warnings.
DISINFECTANT TYPES
Choosing the best disinfectant for a particular task is difficult for dental healthcare workers, especially because of exaggerated or distorted claims made by some manufacturers. All available disinfectants are not ideal; therefore, dental healthcare workers must compare and decide which product will best serve the specific needs of the practice.
Microbial destruction by disinfectants typically involves chemical reactions between the disinfectant and vital contents of the cell. When a disinfectant actually kills an organism, they are called bactericide, fungicide, or germicide agents.
• Alcohols: Ethyl and isopropyl alcohols have been used for years as disinfectants. The alcohols work over a large spectrum of microbes, including most viruses and hardy bacterial cells. The most effective concentration of alcohol is 70%. Unfortunately, alcohols have little, if any, effect on endospores, are not effective cleansing agents, and do not leave an antimicrobial residue. Because of these shortcomings, the ADA and CDC do not accept alcohols for use as a surface disinfectant in the dental office.
• Detergents: Detergents are chemicals that form bridges between water-loving solutions and water-insoluble molecules, such as fats. Because fats are necessary for the cell to function, altering cells with detergents usually results in death of the cell. The most common group of disinfecting detergents is the quaternary ammonium compounds.
IODINE AND IODOPHORES
Although iodine is ideal as an antimicrobial, it has several negative properties, including irritation and staining of skin and corrosion of metal instruments. Solutions of iodophores do not store well after dilution and must be prepared daily.
Intro Page - 17
Introductory Chapter: Dental Practice Act, Infection Control and Cal-OSHA
The California RDAEF: A Compendium for Licensure Success © The Foundation for Allied Dental Education, Inc. 2016 Copyright protected. All rights reserved