       Document 0128
 DOCN  M9460128
 TI    Rules of infection control.
 DT    9404
 AU    Samaranayake L; Oral Biology Unit, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong
       Kong.
 SO    Int Dent J. 1993 Dec;43(6):578-84. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94186249
 AB    The subject of infection control in dentistry has aroused much
       controversy and debate during the past decade as a result of the global
       spread of the human immunodeficiency virus infection. Consequently a
       number of regulatory bodies have promulgated guidelines for infection
       control in dentistry and the current consensus is that the 'universal
       infection control' policy--which considers every patient as
       infectious--should be the norm in every dental practice. The reasons for
       this are the asymptomatic carriage of pathogens due to the sub-clinical
       nature, the prodromal period and the carrier state associated with a
       number of diseases. The universal infection control rules should
       encompass six elements: routine patient evaluation, personal protection
       with barrier techniques, instrument sterilisation including
       sterilisation control, surface and equipment disinfection, asepsis in
       the laboratory and appropriate disposal of contaminated waste including
       sharps. Finally, practitioners should attempt to keep abreast of the
       rules and regulations related to the subject of infection control in
       dentistry which are continuously evolving due to the steadily increasing
       data pool on infectious diseases and their modes of prevention.
 DE    Cross Infection/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  *Dentistry  Human  Infection
       Control/LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD/*METHODS  Universal Precautions  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

