Infection Control for the Dental Office: Hand Hygiene and PPE

Vocabulary flashcards covering hand hygiene procedures, microbial flora types, chemical agents, and personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols in the dental environment.

Resident Microbial Flora

Microbes that permanently colonize the hands and reside several layers under the skin's surface, which can never be totally removed but can be reduced by handwashing.

Transient Microbial Flora

Microbes that reside on the outer layers of the skin, serve as a source of disease spread, and can be removed or greatly reduced by handwashing.

Fomite

Any nonliving object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms, such as viruses or bacteria, and transferring them from one individual to another.

Plain Soap and Water

A hand hygiene agent with no or low levels of antimicrobial agents used to remove dirt and transient microorganisms.

Healthcare Handwashing Products

Handwashing products containing low to medium levels of antimicrobial agents that minimize transient microorganisms and reduce resident bacteria.

Surgical Scrub Products

Handwashing products containing high levels of antimicrobial agents that provide maximum reduction of transient flora through vigorous scrubbing.

Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs

Hand hygiene products used when no visible soil is present, with a recommended rub duration of $20\text{--}30\,\text{seconds}$.

Chlorhexidine Gluconate

An antimicrobial agent in hand rubs that binds to skin and exhibits a prolonged release of antimicrobial activity.

Triclosan

An antimicrobial agent banned in $2017$ by the FDA for being harmful to the environment and not as effective as previously thought.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

A non-immunologic skin response caused by improper hand washing, incomplete drying, or perspiration, resulting in dry, red, itchy, or cracked skin.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

A Type IV delayed allergic response occurring within $24\text{--}48\,\text{hours}$ caused by chemical additives in gloves, producing itching, redness, and sores.

Latex Allergy

A Type I immediate allergic reaction to latex proteins with symptoms appearing within $20\,\text{minutes}$ or less, ranging from skin redness to breathing difficulty and anaphylactic shock.

Source Control

The use of coverings over a person's mouth and nose to prevent the spread of respiratory secretions.

Respiratory Control

The use of a respirator covering the mouth and nose or entire face to reduce exposure to contaminated air.

Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE)

A measure of a mask's filterability referring to its ability to filter out small particles (most surgical masks filter $95\%$).

Surgical N95 Respirators

Respirators designed to force inhaled air through the filter rather than around the edges, where "N" indicates not resistant to oil with $95\%$ filterability.

Cloth Face Coverings

Face coverings that are not considered PPE and are used only for source control by the general public rather than during patient treatment.

Protective Clothing

The outer layer of clothing, such as fluid-resistant gowns or lab jackets with rounded collars and cuffed sleeves, that protects underlying clothes or skin from droplet contamination.

Donning Sequence

The proper sequence for putting on PPE: 1. Protective clothing, 2. Surgical mask or respirator, 3. Protective eyewear, 4. Gloves.

Doffing Sequence

The proper sequence for removing PPE: 1. Gloves (or gloves and gown simultaneously), 2. Gown, 3. Protective eyewear, 4. Surgical mask or respirator.