Chapter 1: Infection Control Program Overview

Chapter Overview

Dental care involves routine exposure to blood, saliva, aerosols, contaminated instruments, equipment, waterlines, and other materials that may transmit infectious agents. Complex treatment environments, increasing patient volume, and the presence of known or unrecognized communicable diseases create potential risks for patients, personnel, learners, research participants, and others involved in ASOD activities.

Standard Precautions and other applicable infection prevention practices must be followed during every patient, clinical, laboratory, and research encounter. These practices are intended to reduce transmission from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection.

This chapter introduces the Adams School of Dentistry Infection Control Manual and establishes the general expectations, applicability, responsibilities, and terminology used throughout the remaining chapters.

Infection Control Program

The Adams School of Dentistry (ASOD) maintains an infection control program to reduce occupational and clinical exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other infectious materials and to support safe patient care, education, research, and operations.

Infection control requirements are based on applicable federal and state laws, regulations, professional standards, University requirements, and current guidance issued by responsible public health and occupational safety authorities. Relevant authorities may include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, American Dental Association, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and other recognized infection prevention organizations.

Guidance contained in the Infection Control Manual is informed primarily by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publication, Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care .

Applicability

The Infection Control Manual applies to all individuals participating in ASOD clinical, educational, laboratory, research, and operational activities. Covered individuals include faculty, staff, residents, learners, affiliates, temporary personnel, intermittent personnel, volunteers, and others whose activities may create or involve an infection control risk.

Requirements apply in patient-care areas, clinical laboratories, research laboratories, simulation and preclinical areas, administrative spaces, and other locations where exposure to blood, saliva, specimens, contaminated materials, or other infectious hazards may occur.

General Requirements

ASOD personnel must follow applicable infection control requirements and use Standard Precautions for all patient care and other activities involving potential exposure to infectious materials. Infection status, diagnosis, or presumed risk must not be used as the sole basis for refusing care.

Clinical, laboratory, research, and educational units may establish additional procedures appropriate to their services and environments. Local procedures must remain consistent with applicable law, University requirements, and the Infection Control Manual and must not reduce patient safety, personnel protection, educational quality, or aseptic practice.

Concerns involving infection control practices, equipment, supplies, environmental conditions, or personnel compliance must be reported promptly to the responsible supervisor, clinical leader, department leadership, Infection Control, or ASOD Clinical Compliance.

Roles and Responsibilities

All ASOD Personnel

All personnel share responsibility for following infection control requirements, identifying unsafe conditions, correcting concerns within their authority, and reporting unresolved or significant issues. Personnel must complete required training, use appropriate protective measures, and cooperate with monitoring, review, and corrective action.

Patient care must be provided with compassion, respect, and appropriate infection prevention practices. A known or suspected communicable disease, including HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, or another infectious condition, does not independently justify refusal of care.

Clinical Personnel and Supervising Faculty

Clinical personnel must apply infection control practices during every patient encounter and support compliance among faculty, staff, residents, learners, and other members of the clinical team.

Supervising faculty and clinical preceptors have primary responsibility for monitoring patient-care and learner activities within their assigned areas. Responsibilities include evaluating compliance, providing immediate correction or instruction, and reporting significant or repeated concerns to the appropriate department or program leader and ASOD Clinical Compliance.

Learners and Residents

Learners and residents must follow all infection control requirements applicable to their assigned activities and demonstrate competency in required practices. Questions or concerns must be directed promptly to supervising faculty, clinical personnel, or another responsible leader.

Clinical and Laboratory Leadership

Department chairs, division leaders, program directors, laboratory supervisors, and other responsible leaders must implement and monitor infection control requirements within their areas. Leadership responsibilities include addressing reported concerns, maintaining appropriate local procedures, supporting training, and ensuring corrective action when deficiencies are identified.

Research and laboratory leadership must implement applicable University requirements for handling human blood, secretions, specimens, tissues, and contaminated materials. Protective measures must address the hazards associated with the work performed.

Lead Dental Assistants and Designated Clinical Personnel

Lead dental assistants and other designated personnel are responsible for coordinating infection control equipment and supply needs within their assigned clinics. Responsibilities include monitoring applicable dental assisting practices, communicating deficiencies, and coordinating corrective action with clinical leadership, department leadership, or ASOD Clinical Compliance.

Preclinical Program Leadership

Preclinical program directors and designated instructors must ensure that learners receive instruction and supervision appropriate to the infection control risks associated with preclinical and simulation activities.

Reporting Communicable Conditions

Personnel subject to communicable disease reporting requirements must comply with applicable law, public health direction, and University processes. Required reporting must be completed through the appropriate public health or occupational health channel.

Infection Control Concerns

Personnel, learners, patients, visitors, and other individuals may report infection control concerns to the responsible department or ASOD Clinical Compliance. Reports should identify the location, activity, condition, and immediate action taken when known.

Questions or concerns may be directed to ASOD_ClinicalCompliance@unc.edu .

Definitions

Related Chapters

Requirements introduced in this chapter are expanded throughout the remaining chapters of the Infection Control Manual. Personnel must review and follow each chapter applicable to their assigned activities.

Proceed to Chapter 2