Page 64 - Compendium Chapters for Course 1 (IC, DPA, OSHA)

While the CDC does not recommend a booster to the HBV vaccine series is necessary, the booster shot does exist for a reason – dental healthcare workers can lose their HBV antibodies over a period of time or may never have seroconverted to antibody positive after having completed the three-shot series. Dental assistants are highly encouraged to obtain an antibody development test four to six months after having completed the series to ensure that the vaccination series “took” and that they are protected from HBV.
CHAPTER REVIEW COMMENTS:
There is a critical difference between infection control and occupational safety and health guidelines (OSHA). Do you know the difference?
In principal many dental assistants do not know the difference and this is a basic concept that often causes confusion. Simply put:
• Infection control is for patient safety
• OSHA is for employee safety
When protocols for each safety category merge, we have a combination of employee and patient safety guidelines that work in concert for the overall protection of both the worker and the patient during dental procedures. Often, one basic principal falls short making the other principal less effective and meaningful for everyone’s safety in the dental office.
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS:
1. Who on the dental team is responsible for maintaining proper Infection Control protocols?
2. What does the term “OPIM” stand for?
3. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?
4. What does asepsis mean?
5. What are the three classifications of Instruments in preparation for reuse?
6. What is the most common method of sterilization utilized today?
7. What two articles of PPE must be changed after each patient?
8. What items are considered personal protective equipment?
9. What items should be placed into a sharps container?
10. Is it possible to sterilize a dental operatory and the equipment in it?
11. The use of a chemical germicide to disinfect a room must be preceded by what action in
order for disinfection to occur?
12. The act of spraying a surface (or wetting it) with disinfectant chemical and wiping it dry
is considered what type of action?
Intro Page - 64
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