Infection prevention and control

Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility as is providing a clean and safe environment in which to treat patients. In order to effectively achieve this you must have an understanding of microbiology, the chain of infection, transmission routes and the subsequent decontamination stages.

Microbiology

The mouth is brimming with micro-organisms – some of which can be harmful to patients and others. The types of micro-organisms which are considered relevant within dentistry are detailed below.

Bacteria – Single cell micro-organisms which multiply by cell division, they grow in colonies and are identified by their different shapes. It is important to recognise that bacteria can be pathogenic and non-pathogenic.