Upon completion of this course, the dental professional should be able to:
- Understand the rationale for and develop policies and practices (i.e., an office infection control/exposure control protocol) intended to prevent or minimize healthcare-associated infections in the oral healthcare setting.
- Understand the role of and implement vaccination strategies intended to reduce the risk of vaccine preventable diseases in the oral healthcare setting.
- Understand the role of and implement the use of personal protective equipment to prevent or reduce the risk of occupational exposure in the oral healthcare setting.
- Understand the role and implement appropriate hand hygiene.
- Understand the role of and incorporate engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or isolate the hazard in the workplace.
- Understand the role of and implement environmental infection control to provide a safer work environment.
- Understand the importance of post-exposure follow-up and associated policies and practices to reduce the risk of post-exposure infection.
- Understand the principles of and implement transmission-based precautions to prevent the potential spread of specific diseases (e.g., TB disease).
- Understand the principles of and implement respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, i.e., basic source control measures with patients, visitors, and oral health care personnel with signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infection.
- Understand the principles of administrative controls and establish exclusion policies from work and patient contact.
