The Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) manual is a crucial tool for ensuring the safety of both patients and dental professionals. It outlines the guidelines and procedures necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in a dental setting.
One important aspect of IPAC is hand hygiene. Dental professionals must wash their hands thoroughly before and after each patient encounter, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. They also need to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, and eye protection.
Another key component of IPAC is sterilization. All reusable instruments must be properly cleaned, decontaminated, packaged, and sterilized before being used on another patient. Dental offices should have reliable equipment that can achieve high-level disinfection or sterilization.
Regular monitoring and documentation are also essential for maintaining effective IPAC practices. This includes keeping records of cleaning schedules, test results for sterilizers or other equipment used in infection control processes.
By following proper IPAC protocols outlined in the manual by regulatory bodies such as Public Health / RCDSO / CDHO / CDC Foundation it assures that dental clinics meet all standard requirements which minimizes risks associated with infections transmission during oral health care delivery .
