The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

ENVIRONMENTAL ASEPSIS

TRANSLATION: DISINFECT EVERY SURFACE

Want to refresh staff training in aseptic procedures? Consider sharing the following statistics at the next team meeting, while you emphasize the requirement to clean and disinfect all operatory surfaces, in addition to instruments, equipment, hands, and skin. A variety of studies focusing on asepsis have shown:

• The average sneeze can project over 100,000 germs into the air at speeds greater than 100 MPH.
• An unguarded cough can spread nearly the same amount.
• Hepatitis B, C, and D viruses can survive on operatory surfaces for as long as one week.
• HIV can survive outside the body for up to six days.
• The herpes simplex virus can remain infectious on surfaces for weeks.

Every team member must understand that the incorrect choice of cleaning product and/or improper use of surface disinfectants can result in infectious disease transmission to everyone in the office, staff and patients alike. The science and protocols of surface disinfecting products and techniques must be constantly emphasized with staff training updated regularly.

Checklist for surface disinfecting:

• Do your team members wipe down operatory surfaces after each use? The first swipe removes debris; the second effort disinfects the surface.


• Does your team know that the use of two cleaning agents is acceptable (for example, a spray and a towelette)? However, both products should have the same chemical ingredients to assure surfaces are completely disinfected.


• Does your staff order "families" of disinfectants, products that meet OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards and are produced by the same manufacturer?


• Is your dental team aware that many surface cleaners designed for dental offices combine cleaning and disinfecting capabilities in a single product? These are available as concentrated sprays or moisture-retaining wipes.


• Do you have a list of operatory surfaces to be cleaned and disinfected between patients, including chairs, lights and their handles, cabinet surfaces, computer units, etc.? Such a list is particularly helpful for training new team members.


• Do you use barrier protection sheaths on operatory equipment? The variety of barriers available from Practicon, Inc. is amazing. The products include fluid-proof film which can be used to cover many different surfaces as well as contoured covers to fit a variety of dental equipment, instruments, and computer equipment. You'll find the entire line in Practicon's print catalog or online at practicon.com. The barriers prevent contamination, thereby reducing cleaning time significantly.

Suggestion: research the variety of surface cleaners and disinfectants available. Decide on one set of products that is most effective at ridding your office of dangerous pathogens, involve the team member responsible for ordering clinical supplies in the research and decision process, and then stick with that brand until you learn of new, more effective products.

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