Preventing Cross Infection

1 August 2022

Your safety is absolutely paramount to all at Etwall Dental Practice. Whether it’s wearing masks, hand washing or ensuring we maintain a safe distance to patients, we pride ourselves on preventing the transfer of harmful bacteria. This transfer can sometimes result in a more concerning situation we call cross-infection.

What is cross-infection?

Cross-infection occurs when hazardous germs, such as bacteria and viruses, are transferred from one person to another. Infections can spread between people, between pieces of equipment, or within the body.

These infections can lead to a slew of problems. As a result, our medical professionals work hard to ensure that equipment is safe and that the environment is clean.

Types of cross-infection

The symptoms of cross-infection vary depending on where the illness originated. As well as the affected area of the body. A fever is one of the earliest signs of cross-infection. This is the body’s initial response to aid in the removal of the infection.

Infections can take many different forms. Here are a few examples:

• A urinary tract infection (UTI) induced by a catheter infection in a surgical site that causes redness, swelling, and pus
• An infection caused by the presence of a venous access line, either peripheral or central

Causes of cross-infection

Cross infections can be induced by a variety of factors, including:

• Bacterias
• Fungi
• Parasites
• Viruses

These microbes can be spread by a variety of means, including:

• Medical equipment that hasn’t been sterilised
• Human interaction with infected things (coughing and sneezing)
• Lengthy usage of catheters, tubes, or intravenous lines filthy bedding

Infections, on the other hand, can spread in a variety of settings, including:

• Schools
• Banks
• Government buildings
• Residences
• Communal buildings

When having a medical procedure, the chance of infection is higher. Cross infection, on the other hand, can occur within the body. A respiratory infection that spreads to the ears or eyes is an example of how an infection in one part of the body can transfer to another.

Diagnosing cross-infection

Cross infection can be diagnosed in a variety of ways by doctors. These are some of them:

• Blood testing and physical examinations
• Testing of the urine
• X-rays, as well as a review of your medical history

Treating cross-infection

The treatment for cross-infection is determined by the disease. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial, fungal, and parasitic illnesses, but they are not effective against the majority of viral infections.

Bacteria can change and develop resistance to treatments over time. This results in the emergence of “superbugs.” These are bacteria strains that are resistant to a variety of antibiotics. This can make killing them more difficult and add to the complexities.

Antiviral medications on prescription are used to treat various types of viruses. Fungal infections can be treated with anti-fungal drugs, which can be applied topically or taken orally. Antibiotics and dietary changes can be used to treat parasites spread through cross-infection.

Cross-infection complications

Infections that go untreated can lead to:

• Diarrhoea
• Sepsis
• Dehydration
• Pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Multi-system organ failure, including the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys

When cross-infection is prevalent, the danger of life-threatening consequences during medical treatments increases.

If you observe symptoms of infection, you should contact your doctor right once. It is easier to treat an infection if it is detected early.

Preventing cross-infection

The best way to treat cross-infection is to treat it at the source – reduce the risk at the earliest point. Special precautions are followed by our medical experts to reduce risk of cross-infection. During dental treatment, cross-infection control guarantees that stringent hygiene is maintained at all times.

• We use disposable materials whenever possible (such as wearing masks), and when that isn’t possible, we use cutting-edge technology to ensure that equipment is completely sterilised before re-use.
• We have a cutting-edge decontamination suite where we eliminate germs with specialised washers, disinfectors, and autoclaves (heaters).
• Before being autoclaved, items like dental mirrors, drills, and hand instruments are carefully cleaned. The autoclave is the most comprehensive technique of sterilisation, using steam and high temperatures to thoroughly clean equipment before re-use.
• Deep cleaning and sterilisation of work surfaces and general areas is performed on a regular basis using certified chemicals and cleaning solutions that destroy both viruses and germs.

At Etwall Dental Practice, your safety is our number one priority. We understand your concerns about cross-infection control and have put in place the most stringent methods to alleviate your anxieties. We adhere to the British Dental Association Good Practice Scheme’s criteria as well as national cross-infection prevention recommendations.

If you feel as though you may require dental treatment or are concerned with your health care, please get in touch with us via phone on 01283 733391 or fill out our contact form and a member of the team will get back to you to discuss treatment options.