Infection Prevention and Control in Dentistry

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the chain of infection, modes of disease transmission, regulatory standards (CDC, OSHA, OH&S), PPE guidelines, hand hygiene protocols, and latex allergy classifications.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity, or the strength of an organism in its ability to cause disease.

Reservoir

A place where microorganisms normally live and reproduce, such as humans, animals, food, water, bioburden, or contaminated surfaces.

Portal of Entry

The means by which a pathogen gains access into the body (e.g., mouth, nose, mucous membranes, or breaks in the skin).

Susceptible Host

A person who is unable to resist infection by a pathogen, often due to poor health, chronic fatigue, extreme stress, or a compromised immune system.

Acute Infection

An infection characterized by severe symptoms that appear soon after the initial infection occurs.

Chronic Infection

An infection in which the microorganism is present for a long period of time, sometimes for life.

Latent Infection

A persistent infection in which symptoms come and go over time, such as oral herpes simplex and genital herpes.

Opportunistic Infection

An infection caused by normally nonpathogenic organisms that occurs in individuals whose resistance is decreased or compromised.

Direct Transmission

Infection transmission that occurs when someone comes into direct physical contact with an infectious lesion or infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, or vaginal secretions.

Indirect Transmission

The transfer of organisms to a susceptible person through the handling of contaminated instruments or touching contaminated surfaces and subsequently touching the face, eyes, or mouth.

Airborne Transmission

Also known as droplet infection; the spread of disease through droplets of moisture containing bacteria or viruses.

Mists

Droplet particles larger than those generated in aerosol spray that contain saliva, blood, and microorganisms.

Spatter

Large droplet particles contaminated with blood, saliva, and other debris that can splash onto oral mucosa, eyes, or nonintact skin during dental procedures.

Parenteral Transmission

Transmission of pathogens through needle stick injuries, human bites, cuts, abrasions, or any break in the skin.

Blood-Borne Transmission

Disease transmission involving direct or indirect contact with blood and other body fluids.

Fecal-Oral Transmission

Pathogen transmission occurring when proper sanitation procedures (such as handwashing after using the toilet) are not followed, leading to the transfer of fecal organisms via touch, surfaces, or food.

Communicable Disease

An illness that can be transmitted from one person to another or through contact with body fluids from another person.

Inherited Immunity

Immunity that is present at birth.

Acquired Immunity

Immunity that develops over a person's lifetime, which can be naturally or artificially acquired.

Naturally Acquired Immunity

Immunity gained when a person contracts and recovers from a disease (active natural) or receives maternal antibodies across the placenta or through breast milk (passive natural).

Artificially Acquired Immunity

Immunity produced when antibodies or antigens are introduced into the body by means of vaccination (active artificial) or antiserum administration (passive artificial).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A non-regulatory federal agency that issues health-related recommendations based on sound scientific evidence and establishes a standard of care for dental professionals.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

A regulatory agency in the United States that issues enforceable standards to protect employee health in the workplace.

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

The Canadian term and regulatory framework used for workplace safety standards, which are most often a provincial or territorial requirement.

OSHA Blood-Borne Pathogens Standard (BBP)

A standard issued in $1991$ designed to protect employees from occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens, including hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Universal Precautions

An infection control concept based on treating all human blood and body fluids (including saliva) as if known to be infected with blood-borne diseases such as HBV, HCV, or HIV.

Standard Precautions

An expanded standard of care issued by the CDC that integrates Universal Precautions elements to protect healthcare providers from pathogens spread by blood, body fluids, excretions, or secretions.

Routine Practices

The recommended Canadian term for infection prevention and control practices used at all times when reprocessing medical devices to prevent and control infection transmission.

Occupational Exposure

Any reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane contact, or percutaneous injury involving blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).

Category I Exposure Determination

An occupational classification for staff routinely exposed to blood, saliva, or both (e.g., dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and sterilization assistants).

Category II Exposure Determination

An occupational classification for personnel who may on occasion be exposed to blood, saliva, or both (e.g., receptionists or office managers who occasionally clean treatment rooms or handle impressions).

Category III Exposure Determination

An occupational classification for personnel who are never exposed to blood, saliva, or both (e.g., financial managers, insurance clerks, or computer operators).

Postexposure Medical Follow-up

Services offered to an exposed worker at no charge, including confidential medical counseling and an HIV test series performed immediately and at $6\,\text{weeks}$, $12\,\text{weeks}$, and $6\,\text{months}$.

Sharps Container

A puncture-resistant, closable, leak-proof, color-coded or biohazard-labeled receptacle placed as close as possible to the work area for immediate disposal of contaminated needles and disposable sharps.

Single-Handed Scoop Technique

A safety technique used to recap needles without using both hands or directing the needle tip toward any part of the body.

Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs (ABHR)

Waterless antiseptic gels, foams, or rinses containing $60\%$ to $95\%$ alcohol that reduce microbial flora more effectively than plain soap.

Protective Clothing

Fluid-resistant apparel with long sleeves and high necklines (e.g., smocks, lab coats, surgical scrubs) designed to protect skin and undergarments from exposure to blood, saliva, and aerosols.

Protective Mask

PPE worn over the nose and mouth that must possess at least $95\%$ filtration efficiency for particles $3\,\text{mm}$ to $5\,\text{mm}$ in diameter.

Protective Eyewear

Eye protection with both front and solid side shields required by OSHA during exposure-prone procedures to guard against aerosolized pathogens, spatter, and caustic chemicals.

Face Shield

A chin-length plastic shield worn as an alternative or supplement to protective eyewear; it does not substitute for a face mask because it does not protect against inhaling aerosols.

Examination Gloves

Disposable medical-quality gloves (typically nitrile, latex, or vinyl) worn during patient examinations and nonsurgical procedures; discarded after a single use.

Overgloves

Lightweight, clear plastic gloves (food handler gloves) worn over contaminated treatment gloves to prevent cross-contamination when retrieving clean supplies or touching clean surfaces.

Sterile Surgical Gloves

Prepackaged, hand-fitted gloves designed for invasive procedures involving the cutting of bone or significant bleeding (such as oral surgery or periodontal therapy).

Utility Gloves

Heavy-duty gloves used for cleaning treatment rooms, handling contaminated instruments, and surface disinfection; not used for direct patient care, but can be washed, disinfected, or sterilized for reuse.

Irritant Dermatitis

A nonimmunologic condition characterized by dry, reddened, irritated, or cracked skin resulting from direct chemical contact with an irritating substance.

Type IV Allergic Reaction

The most common latex allergy; a delayed, cell-mediated immune contact dermatitis causing a red, itchy rash that appears within $48$ to $72\,\text{hours}$ in response to glove-processing chemicals.

Type I Allergic Reaction

The most dangerous, potentially fatal latex allergy; an immediate immunologic hypersensitivity response to latex proteins occurring within $2$ to $3\,\text{minutes}$ of exposure.

Preprocedural Mouth Rinse

An antimicrobial oral rinse (e.g., chlorhexidine gluconate or essential oils) administered to a patient before an intraoral procedure to reduce microbial load in aerosols and spatter.