Disinfecting equipment

Decontamination is not just one process, but a combination of processes, including cleaning, sterilisation or disinfection and storage used to render a reusable item safe. Disinfection reduces the microbial load to a level which makes the disinfected object safe to handle Sterilisation is the killing and removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores.

It is a requirement of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 that everyone who operates, supervises or manages work equipment must be trained adequately and that It is the responsibility of the User, the dentist, the hygienist, or the therapist that the equipment they intend to use for a dental procedure is "fit for the purpose it is intended".

Keeping equipment clean and ready is an important part of its maintenance and there are a few things you can do:

• Whenever possible, decontamination should be carried out in a separate dedicated room. However, it is appreciated that many practices do not have sufficient space to build or house a dedicated local decontamination unit. Under those circumstances, an area in the surgery should be specifically designated for decontamination.
• Automation of instrument cleaning or validated manual cleaning
• Commissioning, validating, monitoring and maintaining of sterilisers-Improving the training of dental staff in instrument decontamination
• Segregation of dirty instruments and procedures from clean by zoning and workflow patterns. 

A typical dirty zone contains :

• A setting down area for dirty instruments

• Secure storage containers for dirty instruments
• Ultrasonic bath
• Thermal washer-disinfector (strongly preferred but optional)
• Automated pre-sterilisation dental handpiece cleaning machines (optional)
• A dedicated sink for instrument cleaning with preferably a separate sink for rinsing the instruments.

A clean zone contains:-