Drivers for change in infection control

Examination of the drivers for change over the last 21 years since the inception of The Dental Channel (1998), highlighting how infection control and prevention was managed in the past compared with now (2019).

Topics covered include:

• vCJD and the Medical Devices Directive: both major drivers for change in decontamination equipment manufacture and instrument decontamination in dentistry;
• Legionellae and Pseudomonas outbreaks and cases driving change in dental unit waterline (DUWL) and plumbing management;
• how effective antiviral treatment for HIV and HCV has completely changed the perception and management of blood borne viruses in dentistry;
• the impact of antimicrobial drug resistance in driving changes in prescribing in dentistry and the introduction of antimicrobial stewardship; and
• the about-turn in prophylaxis for infective endocarditis!

On completion you should have an understanding of:

• why the standard of decontamination and disinfection had to be raised in dentistry;
• the role of legionellae and pseudomonas species in changing DUWL management in dentistry;
• the impact that the introduction of highly effective anti-retroviral drugs has made to both the epidemiology of blood-borne viral (BBV) diseases and their infection control and prevention of BBV;
• the future requirement of antimicrobial stewardship in dentistry; and
• current prophylaxis for patients with infective endocarditis.