California Code of Regulations › Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations › Division 10 - Dental Board of California › Chapter 1 - General Provisions Applicable to All Licensees › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 1005 - Minimum Standards for Infection Control

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Definitions of terms used in this
				  section:
(1) "Standard precautions" are a
				  group of infection prevention practices that apply to all patients, regardless
				  of suspected or confirmed infection status, in any setting in which healthcare
				  is delivered. These include: hand hygiene, use of gloves, gown, mask, eye
				  protection, or face shield, depending on the anticipated exposure, and safe
				  handling of sharps. Standard precautions shall be used for care of all patients
				  regardless of their diagnoses or personal infectious status.
(2) "Critical items" confer a high risk for
				  infection if they are contaminated with any microorganism. These include all
				  instruments, devices, and other items used to penetrate soft tissue or
				  bone.
(3) "Semi-critical items" are
				  instruments, devices and other items that are not used to penetrate soft tissue
				  or bone, but contact oral mucous membranes, non-intact skin or other
				  potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
(4) "Non-critical items" are instruments,
				  devices, equipment, and surfaces that come in contact with soil, debris,
				  saliva, blood, OPIM and intact skin, but not oral mucous membranes.
(5) "Low-level disinfection" is the least
				  effective disinfection process. It kills some bacteria, some viruses and fungi,
				  but does not kill bacterial spores or mycobacterium tuberculosis var bovis, a
				  laboratory test organism used to classify the strength of disinfectant
				  chemicals.
(6) "Intermediate-level
				  disinfection" kills mycobacterium tuberculosis var bovis indicating that many
				  human pathogens are also killed. This process does not necessarily kill
				  spores.
(7) "High-level
				  disinfection" kills some, but not necessarily all bacterial spores. This
				  process kills mycobacterium tuberculosis var bovis, bacteria, fungi, and
				  viruses.
(8) "Germicide" is a
				  chemical agent that can be used to disinfect items and surfaces based on the
				  level of contamination.
(9)
				  "Sterilization" is a validated process used to render a product free of all
				  forms of viable microorganisms.
(10) "Cleaning" is the removal of visible
				  soil (e.g., organic and inorganic material) debris and OPIM from objects and
				  surfaces and shall be accomplished manually or mechanically using water with
				  detergents or enzymatic products.
(11) "Personal Protective Equipment" (PPE) is
				  specialized clothing or equipment worn or used for protection against a hazard.
				  PPE items may include, but are not limited to, gloves, masks, respiratory
				  devices, protective eyewear and protective attire which are intended to prevent
				  exposure to blood, body fluids, OPIM, and chemicals used for infection control.
				  General work attire such as uniforms, scrubs, pants and shirts, are not
				  considered to be PPE.
(12) "Other
				  Potentially Infectious Materials" (OPIM) means any one of the following:
(A) Human body fluids such as saliva in
				  dental procedures and any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood,
				  and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to
				  differentiate between body fluids.
(B) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than
				  intact skin) from a human (living or dead).
(C) Any of the following, if known or
				  reasonably likely to contain or be infected with human immunodeficiency virus
				  (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV):
1. Cell, tissue, or organ cultures from
				  humans or experimental animals;
2.
				  Blood, organs, or other tissues from experimental animals; or
3. Culture medium or other
				  solutions.
(13)
				  "Dental Healthcare Personnel" (DHCP), are all paid and non-paid personnel in
				  the dental healthcare setting who might be occupationally exposed to infectious
				  materials, including body substances and contaminated supplies, equipment,
				  environmental surfaces, water, or air. DHCP includes dentists, dental
				  hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians (in-office and
				  commercial), students and trainees, contractual personnel, and other persons
				  not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious
				  agents (e.g., administrative, clerical, housekeeping, maintenance, or volunteer
				  personnel).