HTM 0105: Decontamination

1
HTM 01-05 Decontamination

• A summary of requirements

2
Policy and forward

• Patients deserve to be treated in a safe clean
  environment with consistent standards of care
  every time they receive treatment
• Building on existing good practice will help to
  deliver standards of decontamination expected by
  patients
• Essential quality requirements to be in place
  within 12 months
• Best practice recommendations no timescale but
  practices need to plan to progress towards it
  where they can

3
Essential requirements

• A local infection control policy, including
  instrument decontamination
• A nominated lead for infection control and
  decontamination
• Procedures for managing single use and reusable
  instruments (segregation, disposal and
  monitoring)
• Separation of decontamination procedures
  designated room or area
• Sinks (1 for handwashing, 2 for decontamination)

4
Essential requirements contd

• Decontamination equipment fit for purpose and
  validated
• Cleaning using an ultrasonic bath or manual
  cleaning
• Inspection to ensure visibly clean (magnifying
  glass and task lighting)
• Instrument storage dedicated area as far as
  possible from dental chair
• Training (documented) of staff involved with
  decontamination
• Current immunisation of staff (hepatitis B)
• Infection control audits (annually)
• An assessment of changes needed to progress
  towards best practice

5
Best practice

• Higher standards of infection control through
  continuous improvements in
  premises and equipment
• No timescales recognising it will take some
  practices longer than
  others and some may never be able to comply fully

6
Best practice requirements

• Washer disinfector to remove the need for manual
  washing
• Manual cleaning only when recommended by
  manufacturer
• Decontamination rooms to improve separation from
  other activities (clinical)
• Instrument storage away from the surgery
• Improved systems for using instruments within
  timescales
• Non-vacuum autoclaves used immediately or wrapped
  and used within 21 days
• Vacuum-autoclaves used within 30 days if wrapped
  before sterilisation
• (nb essential requirements)

7
Decontamination areas - example