Managing Records Necessary for Sterilization of Instruments and Devices
The dental industry in Canada, particularly in Ontario, has experienced some negative publicity in recent
years as it has been inspected and closed due to infection prevention and control violations.
In some cases, patients are informed that they may be exposed to infectious diseases through dental visits.
Although these breaches and patient exposures are rare, news reports in Canada, as well as breaches
reported in the United States, have raised some concerns among Canadian patients and oral health care
workers.
Record Keeping
The sterilization records of dental instruments and equipment are a key element of the dental clinic IPAC program.
The following are record keeping requirements, all of which belong to the high-risk (HR) category:
Conclusion
There are many opportunities for errors in the instrument reprocessing process, and any error can lead to
the failure of the sterilization process and potentially expose patients to the risk of infectious disease transmission.
RCDSO and PHAC have clear guidelines for instrument reprocessing, and following these guidelines will
help minimize the risk of processing errors. However, human factors always need to be considered.
OHCW may not have received sufficient training and/or lack experience, or may act hastily due to
scheduling or staffing issues. Regardless of the reason, reducing the likelihood of human errors in
instrument reprocessing can significantly reduce the risk of infection prevention violations and reduce the
responsibility of dental clinics or facilities. Automation of this process can reduce risks, improve
compliance, and increase efficiency.
