Calendar > 02/15/2023

CE Course - Infection Control Is Not Optional: Dental Practitioners Need to Be Involved
Date: February 15, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Webinar
Notes

Infection Control Is Not Optional: Dental Practitioners Need to Be Involved

Dr. Louis G. DePaola

The emergence of numerous infectious diseases such as COVID-19, and monkeypox as well as the re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and polio has had a dramatic impact on the delivery of oral healthcare. Is it safe to go to the dentist? The answer is yes; when dental practitioners are compliant with recommended infection control practices. The CDC reaffirmed the importance of Infection Control in the dental office with the release updates to include precautions that are essential to the prevent the spread of respiratory infectious diseases in the dental office. Included in these documents are recommendations for the updating of Standard, Precautions to include Contact, Droplet and Airborne Precautions. Emphasis has been placed on methodologies to reduce/manage of dental aerosol to minimize aerosolized particles generated during the delivery of dental treatment. The alarming increase in respiratory infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections (HAIs) compels all healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about infection control practices that reduce the risk of disease transmission. A thorough review of these new CDC Guidelines as well as the Guideline for Infection Control in Dentistry, 2003, Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic and other current CDC/OSHA infection control recommendations will be presented. This program will provide dental providers with the latest information on the prevention of recent emerging diseases such as monkeypox, measles, polio and COVID-19 in the dental office. Paramount to controlling this pandemic are the principles of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and enhancements in respiratory protection that may need to be implemented. Emphasis will be placed on compliance issues and how a practical, cost effective "safe workplace" can be achieved in 2022.

The following topics will be discussed:

The breaches of infection control in the dental office that were reported in CO, OK, PA and NJ.
What happened? How could these have been prevented?
What is new in the 2022, 2016, and 2003 Guidelines? How can the impact of infectious diseases be minimized in the dental office?
A thorough review of the new 2016 CDC Checklist and Guideline as well as Guideline for Infection Control in Dentistry, 2003, Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic and the 2003 Guideline on Infection Control in Dentistry will be presented. New issues for compliance as well as compliance with existing CDC/OSHA recommendations will be discussed in detail. Updated Standard Precautions will be presented.
What can be done to reduce the transmission of respiratory diseases and pandemic SARS-Co-V-2, influenza, etc?
The principles of respiratory etiquette will be reviewed. The best strategies for the prevention of these diseases will be presented.
How can the impact of emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections be minimized?
The principles of standard precautions, especially hand hygiene, will be discussed in detail.