CDC Offers New Resources for Infection Prevention in Dental Settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released a new resource designed to help dental healthcare professionals prevent infections.
The new resource, “Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care,” brings together CDC recommendations from the 2003 “Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings,” which is the standard of practice for clinical dentistry as well as other recommendations published in CDC guidance documents since 2003.
The resource includes tools to help dental healthcare personnel follow infection prevention guidelines. These include a summary of basic infection prevention principles and recommendations for dental settings; a checklist to evaluate dental staff compliance with administrative and clinical practice infection prevention recommendations; and key references and resources for each area of focus including sterilization, safe injection practices and hand hygiene in dental settings.
The comprehensive, user friendly resource can help dental healthcare personnel maintain proper infection prevention practices.
The recommendations emphasize the importance of having one person in every dental practice assigned to be the infection prevention coordinator. The coordinator would develop written infection prevention policies based on evidence-based guidance noted in the new resource. The coordinator can help ensure that dental healthcare personnel are aware of the equipment and supplies necessary and should address infection prevention issues with all staff members.
The Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings is online at: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/guidelines/index.htm
Together We Rise: Why AORN Expo 2025 Is a Must for Every Perioperative Nurse
March 31st 2025From April 5 to 8, 2025, thousands of perioperative nurses will gather in Boston for the 2025 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo—a transformational experience designed to elevate nursing practice, build lifelong connections, and advance surgical care.
Vet IP Roundtable 2: Infection Control and Biosecurity Challenges in Veterinary Care
March 31st 2025Veterinary IPs highlight critical gaps in cleaning protocols, training, and biosecurity, stressing the urgent need for standardized, animal-specific infection prevention practices across diverse care settings.
Invisible, Indispensable: The Vital Role of AHRQ in Infection Prevention
March 25th 2025With health care systems under strain and infection preventionists being laid off nationwide, a little-known federal agency stands as a last line of defense against preventable patient harm. Yet the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is now facing devastating cuts—threatening decades of progress in patient safety.
The Sterile Processing Conference Survival Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Next Event
March 25th 2025From expert speakers to cutting-edge tools, sterile processing conferences, like the 2025 HSPA Annual Conference and the SoCal SPA's Spring Conference, offer unmatched opportunities to grow your skills, expand your network, and strengthen your department's infection prevention game.
Redefining Material Compatibility in Sterilization: Insights From AAMI TIR17:2024
March 24th 2025AAMI TIR17:2024 provides updated, evidence-based guidance on material compatibility with sterilization modalities. It offers essential insights for medical device design and ensures safety without compromising functionality.
