A large scale observational survey of instrument decontamination processes in general dental A practice has demonstrated gaps between required guidance, standards, legislation and current practice. Guidance, to help dental practices close the gap and replace previous infection prevention guidelines, has been published in England and Wales in the form of Health Technical Memorandum 01-05. This review provides an overview of its rationale, evidence base and comparison with other existing guidance in the United Kingdom.
Anonymous (1958) Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust, Studies of sterile supply arrangements for hospitals, present sterilising practice in six hospitals. Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust: London.
2.
Anonymous (1960) Central sterile supply [Editorial]. Lanceti: 353-4.
3.
Barron RM, Campbell SL, King D., Bellon A., Chapman KE, Williamson RA, Manson JC ( 2007) High titers of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy infectivity associated with extremely low levels of PrPSc in vivo. Journal of Biological Chemistry282(49): 35878-86.
4.
Barr S. ( 1996) The 1990 Florida dental investigation: is the case really closed? Annals of Internal Medicine124: 250-4.
5.
British Dental Association (BDA) (2003) Advice sheet A12 - infection control in dentistry. BDA : London.
6.
Centers for Disease Contro (CDC) (1986) Recommended infection-control practices for dentistry. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report35(15): 237-42.
7.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2003) Guidelines for infection control in dental health care settings. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report52: 1-76.
8.
Ciesielski C., Marianos D., Ou CY, Dumbaugh R., Witte J., Berkelman R., Gooch B., Myers G., Chi-Ching L., Schochetman G., Howell J., Lasch A., Bell K., Economou N., Scott B., Furman L., Curran J., Jaffe H. ( 1992) Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in a dental practice. Annals of Internal Medicine116(10): 798-805.
9.
Darmady EM, Hughes Kea, Jones JD, Verdon PE ( 1959) Failure of sterility in hospital ward practice . Lanceti: 622-4.
10.
Department of Health (DH) (2007) Potential vCJD transmission risks via dentistry: an interim review. 14 December. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081170 (accessed 23 August 2010).
11.
Department of Health (DH) (2009) Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices . 1 December. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_109363 (accessed 23 August 2010).
12.
Department of Health and Social Security ( 1972) Clothier Report. Report of the committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances, including the production, which led to the use of contaminated infusion fluids in the Devonport section of Plymouth General Hospital. (Cmnd. 5035). HMSO: London. ISBN: 0101503504
13.
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland (2009) Health Technical Memorandum 01- 05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices PEL (09) 02. www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/health_technical_memorandum_01_-05_decontamination_in_primary_care_dental_practices.pdf (accessed 23 August 2010 ).
14.
E N556-1:2001 (2001) European Standard. Sterilization of medical devices. Requirements for medical devices to be designated ‘STERILE’. Requirements for terminally sterilized medical devices. The British Standards Institute .
15.
Es ty, JR, Meyer KF ( 1922) The heat resistance of the spores B. botulinus and allied anaerobes. Xl. Journal of Infectious Diseases31: 650-63. Fallon RJ (1963) Wrapping of sterilized articles. Lancetii: 785. Hadler SC, Sorley DL, Acree KH, Webster HM, Schable CA, Francis DP, Maynard JE (1981) An outbreak of hepatitis B in a dental practice. Annals of Internal Medicine95(2): 133-8.
16.
Health Facilities Scotland (2008) Scottish Health Planning Note 13 part 2 Decontamination Facilities: Local Decontamination Units. www.hfs.scot.nhs.uk/online-services/publications/decontamination/ (accessed 23 August 2010).
17.
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) (2007) Local Decontamination Units: Guidance on the requirements for equipment, facilities and management. http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/decontamination/publications/ldu-001-02-v1-2.pdf (accessed 23 August 2010).
18.
Hewitt PE, Llewelyn CA, Mackenzie J., Will RG ( 2006) Three reported cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease transmission following transfusion of labile blood components. Vox Sanguis91(4): 348.
19.
Hilton DA, Ghani AC, Conyers L., Edwards P., McCardle L., Ritchie D., Penney M., Hegazy D., Ironside JW ( 2004) Prevalence of lymphoreticular prion protein accumulation in UK tissue samples. Journal of Pathology203: 733-9.
20.
Howie JW, Timbury MC ( 1956) Laboratory tests of operating theatre sterilizers . Lancet271(6944): 669-73.
21.
ISO 13485: 2003. (2003) Medical devices - quality management systems - requirements for regulatory purposes . The British Standards Institute.
22.
Kurita H., Kurashina K., Honda T. ( 2006) Nosocomial transmission of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus via the surfaces of the dental operatory. British Dental Journal201(5): 297-300.
23.
Letters S., Smith AJ, McHugh S., Bagg J. ( 2005) A study of visual and blood contamination on reprocessed endodontic files from general dental practice. British Dental Journal199: 522-5.
24.
Lewis DL, Arens M., Appleton SS, Nakashima K., Ryu J., Boe RK, Patrick JB, Watanabe DT, Suzuki M. ( 1992) Cross-contamination potential with dental equipment . Lancet340: 1252-4.
25.
Lowe AH, Bagg J., Burke FJT, MacKenzie D., McHugh S. ( 2001) A study of blood contamination of Siqveland matrix bands . British Dental Journal192: 43-5.
26.
Martin MV, Hardy P. ( 1991) Two cases of oral infection by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. British Dental Journal170: 63-4.
27.
Mathiason CK, Powers JG, Dahmes SJ, Osborn DA, Miller KV, Warren RJ, Mason GL, Hays SA, Hayes-Klug J., Seelig DM, Wild MA, Wolfe LL, Spraker TR, Miller MW, Sigurdson CJ, Telling GC, Hoover EA ( 2006) Infectious prions in the saliva and blood of deer with chronic wasting disease. Science314: 133-6.
28.
Medical Research Council (MRC) (1959) A report to the Medical Research Council by the working party on pressure steam sterilizers. Sterilisation by steam under increased pressure . Lancet7070: 425-35.
29.
Meers PD, Calder MW, Mazhar MM, Lawrie GM ( 1973) Intravenous infusion of contaminated dextrose solution: the Devonport incident. Lancet302(7839): 1189-92.
30.
NHS Estates (1997) (England & Wales) Health Technical Memorandum 2010 (Sterilizers). HMSO: London. ISBN 0 11 321739 0.
31.
NHS Education for Scotland (2010) Decontamination primary care e-learning programme. www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/initiatives/healthcareassociated-infection/educational-programmes/decontaminationprimary-care (accessed 23 August 2010).
32.
PD ISO/TR 14969:2004 (2004) Medical devices - quality management systems - guidance on the application of ISO13485: 2003 .
33.
Pocchiari M.(2009) Prevalence of variant CJD in the UK. British Medical Journal338: 1281.
34.
Reingold AL, Kane MA, Murphy BL, Checko P., Francis DP, Maynard JE ( 1982) Transmission of hepatitis B by an oral surgeon . Journal of Infectious Diseases145: 262-8.
35.
Rokadiya S., Malden NJ ( 2008) An implant periapical lesion leading to acute osteomyelitis with isolation of Staphylococcus aureus. British Dental Journal205(9): 489-91.
36.
Rossi T., Laine J., Eerola E., Kotilainen P., Pettonen R. ( 1995) Denture carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Lancet345: 1577.
37.
Shaw Jr FE, Barrett CL, Hamm R., Peare RB, Coleman PJ, Hadler SC, Fields HA, Maynard JE ( 1986) Lethal outbreak of hepatitis B in a dental practice . Journal of the American Medical Association255:3260-4.
38.
Smith AJ, Robertson D., Tang MK, Jackson MS, MacKenzie D., Bagg J. ( 2003) Staphylococcus aureus infection in the oral cavity: a 3 year retrospective analysis of clinical laboratory data. British Dental Journal195: 701-3.
39.
Smith AJ, Creanor S., Hurrell D., Bagg J., McGowan M.(2009) Management of infection control in dental practice. Journal of Hospital Infection71(4): 353-8.
40.
Scottish Dental Practice Clinical Effectiveness Programme ( 2007) Decontamination into practice part 1 - cleaning of dental instruments. www.sdcep.org.uk (accessed 23 August 2010).
41.
Scottish Executive Health Department (2001 ) The decontamination of surgical instruments and other medical devices. NHS HDL. 20 August. http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/dsmid/dsimd-00.htm (accessed 23 August 2010).
42.
Scottish Executive Health Department (2004 ) NHS Scotland: Sterile Services Provision Review Group: survey of decontamination in general dental practice. 26 November. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/11/20093/45220 (accessed 23 August 2010).
43.
Wilson APR, Brent D., Beckett G. ( 1999) Benchtop sterilizers and CSSD. Journal of Hospital Infection43(3): 246-7.
