Education and Training

DHCP should receive infection prevention training:

  • When they are hired
  • When new tasks or procedures affect their occupational exposure
  • Annually
  • According to state or federal requirements

Education and training should be appropriate to the assigned duties of specific dental health care personnel (DHCP). For DHCP who perform tasks or procedures likely to result in occupational exposure to infectious agents, training should include:

  • A description of their exposure risks
  • Review of prevention strategies and infection prevention policies and procedures
  • Discussion of how to manage work-related illness and injuries, including postexposure prophylaxis
  • Review of work restrictions for the exposure or infection

References

CDC. Basic Expectations for Safe Care Training Modules. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/safe-care-modules.htm. Accessed May 8, 2018.

CDC. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings – 2003. MMWR 2003; 52(No. RR-17):1–66. Available at: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf [PDF-1.2M].  Accessed March 17, 2018.

CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care.pdf [PDF – 826 KB]

Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 2007 Guideline for isolation precautions: preventing transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings. Available at: www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/isolation/Isolation2007.pdf [PDF-1.9M].  Accessed March 17, 2016.

US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens; needlestick and other sharps injuries; final rule. Federal Register 2001;66:5317–5325. Updated from and including 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens; final rule. Federal Register 1991;56:64003–64182. Available at: www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051.  Accessed March 17, 2016.

US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Enforcement procedures for the occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Washington, DC: US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2001; Directive Number. CPL 02–02–069. Available at: https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-02-069-0.  Accessed November 8, 2023.