Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS) continues to provide a range of services to dental practices, including assistance with remediating deficiencies related to non-compliant practices which violate nationally recognized guidelines and standards.
An ICCS client was recently reported to the state department of health (DOH) and dental board by an employee who was concerned about the reuse of a single use item labeled as disposable. Depending on the type of item being reused, the state DOH will discipline the practice based on the level of risk to patients. The consequences of a visit from authorities include a spectrum of penalties from fines to the dentist(s) losing their license to the worst-case scenario of dental practices being required to notify patients that they may have been exposed to a bloodborne pathogen.
Reuse of single use devices remains a significant issue in the dental community. According to observations conducted onsite and via staff interviews, ICCS consultants report the following as the reasons dental practices fail to adhere to the standards:
Cost savings
Lack of recognizing international symbols (e.g., single-use symbol of a 2 with a slash through it)
Misunderstanding product labels (disposable items are also considered one-time use)
Unaware of the importance of a manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU)
Overall lack of general infection prevention and control education
ICCS reminds the dental community that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings in 2003 and updated in 2016, with an extensive checklist for offices to follow. The American Dental Association references the CDC guidance and encourages all dental practices to strictly adhere to them. Educating and reeducating staff on the importance of following nationally recognized guidance, following manufacturer's IFUs and considering items as single use if IFUs are absent are vital to patient safety.