References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recommendations and Reports 2003; 52(RR–17). 2003. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf (Accessed 15 September 2017)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf (Accessed 15 September 2017)
Miller CH., 6th edn. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018
Palenik CJ. The office safety and health coordinator. Texas Dent J. 2010; 127:406-408
Why Your Practice Needs an Infection Control Coordinator. http://www.dentalaegis.com/cced/2017/06/why-your-practice-needs-an-infection-control-coordinator?page_id=300 (Accessed 15 September 2017)
The role of the infection control coordinator. 2004. http://www.dentistrytoday.com/infection-control/1315 (Accessed 15 September 2017)

Practice infection control co-ordinator

From Volume 44, Issue 11, December 2017 | Pages 1090-1091

Authors

Charles John Palenik

GC Infection Prevention Consultants, 5868 East 71st Street, E-117 Indianapolis, Indiana 46220, USA

Articles by Charles John Palenik

Article

Infection control has been a central issue in dentistry for more than 35 years. Compliance today is demanding because governmental regulations and guidelines have progressively become more complex. Also, reports of patient-to-patient disease transmission related to infection control breaches in medical and dental facilities have increased public awareness and concern.

All dental settings, regardless of the level of care provided, must make infection control a priority and should be equipped to observe Standard Precautions and other infection prevention recommendations contained in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings 2003.1

In March 2016, CDC published its Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care. It includes several recommendations and information published since 2003 plus an assessment checklist to evaluate practice compliance.2

One of the fundamental elements needed to prevent transmission of infectious agents is application of effective administrative measures. This includes a recommendation that every dental practice has a written exposure control plan and to assign at least one person trained (or willing to be trained) to be an infection control co-ordinator (ICC).2

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