The objective of decontamination is to reduce the risk of cross-infection to patients and staff, and is accomplished by a combination of cleaning and disinfection operations.
Cleaning refers to the removal of soiling, where pathogens and proteinaceous material are likely to be present, whilst disinfection means the deactivation of pathogens. Disinfectants work best in clean conditions so disinfecting without cleaning can limit its effectiveness if the disinfectant is unable to provide effective cleaning for all the soil types present.
Alcohol solutions act rapidly without leaving any surface residue, providing effective inactivation of a wide range of microorganisms. Their fast-drying property is seen as an advantage in the fast turnaround of patients and the availability of a wide range of alcohol-based preparations has led to its widespread adoption in dental decontamination.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Dental Nursing and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Up to 2 free articles per month
-
New content available
Already have an account? Sign in here