Clinical contact surfaces can be directly contaminated from patient materials either by direct spray or spatter generated during dental procedures or by contact with DHCP's gloved hands. These surfaces can subsequently contaminate other instruments, devices, hands or gloves. Examples of such surfaces include:
1. Light handles
2. Switches
3. Dental Radiograph Equipment
4. Dental chairside computers
5. Reusable containers of dental materials
6. Drawer handles
7. Faucet handles
8. Countertops
9. Pens
10. Telephones
11. Doorknobs
Barrier protection of surfaces and equipment can prevent contamination of clinical contact surfaces, but is particularly effective for those that are difficult to clean. Barriers include clear plastic wrap, bags, sheets, tubing, and plastic-backed paper or other materials impervious to moisture. Because such coverings can become contaminated, they should be removed and discarded between patients, while DHCP are still gloved. The surface needs to be cleaned and disinfected only if contamination is evident. Otherwise, after removing gloves and performing hand hygiene, DHCP should place clean barriers on these surfaces before the next patient.
Also, general cleaning and disinfection are recommended for clinical contact surfaces, dental unit surfaces and countertops at the end of the daily work activities and are required if surfaces have become contaminated since their last cleaning. To facilitate daily cleaning, treatment areas should be kept free of unnecessary equipment and supplies.
Manufacturers of dental devices and equipment should provide information regarding material compatibility with liquid chemical germicides, whether equipment can be safely immersed for cleaning, and how it should be decontaminated if servicing is required.
Recommendations
Clinical Contact surfaces
1. Use barriers to protect clinical contact surfaces, particularly those that are difficult to clean (eg, witches on dental chairs) and change surface barriers between patients.
2. After removing the barrier, examine the surface to make sure it did not become soiled inadvertently. Clean and disinfect areas that are visibly contaminated.
3. Clean and disinfect clinical contact surfaces that are not barrier protected, by using an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant witha low- (ie, HIV and HBV label claims) to intermediate-level (ie tuberculocidal claim) activity after each patient. Use an intermediate-level disinfectant if visibly contaminated with blood.