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Infection Control, OSHA & Vaccine Recommendations After COVID-19
January 13 @ 11:00 am – 5:30 pm EST
Health care professionals (HCP) are routinely at an increased risk of cross-infection when treating patients. In response, historical application of evidence-based infection prevention practices and strategies has been demonstrated to provide effective protection during provision of healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic presented the latest challenge to infection control in both medical and dental facilities. This seminar will focus on practical discussion of the most recent infection prevention regulations and recommendations as they relate to dental settings, using occupational blood-borne, airborne, and waterborne pathogens as frameworks for the presentation. Discussion sections include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), instrument reprocessing, environmental surface disinfection, and dental water treatment. Application of Standard and Transmission-based Precautions, PPE and air quality requirements necessitated by emergence of SARS-CoV-2 disease also will be considered in light of updated CDC, OSHA, NIOSH, and EPA publications. A major goal of this session is to help dental professionals increase their understanding of the “why” as well as the “what” of infection control procedures.
VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS: SCIENCE, SUCCESS, & MYTHS
This afternoon session of this live webinar will consider vaccination as one of the most effective public health approaches for protection of both the general population and health care professionals. The most recent recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines will be presented in addition to information pertaining to other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, including influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, shingles, human papilloma viruses (HPV), and pertussis (i.e., whooping cough). A major goal of this presentation is to discuss appropriate scientific and clinical evidence for available vaccines and emerging technologies, to provide participants useful information when considering: 1. their own protection; 2. protection of the general public; and 3. vaccine requirements for individuals diagnosed with immune compromising conditions and diseases. Important information also will be included describing vaccine misperceptions and myths which can damage public health success against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course the participants should be able to:
- Describe application of standard precautions as the foundation of infection prevention
- Describe occupational challenges from bloodborne and respiratory infections workers
- Discuss impact of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection on dental infection precautions
- Understand the most recent updates for CDC and OSHA infection control recommendations and regulations
- Comprehend recommended transmission-based precautions associated with controlling aerosols and airborne pathogens
- Understand the rationale and practices of effective, hand hygiene procedures
- Comprehend the most current vaccination recommendations for dental personnel
- Describe recent technology advances and protocols for instrument processing and sterilization
- Understand how to effectively monitor reprocessing and sterilization procedures
- Describe the application of single-use disposables
- Discuss the importance of environmental surface cleaning and disinfection
- Describe factors which can lead to dental unit waterline (DUWL) contamination.
- Comprehend practical strategies which can minimize DUWL contamination.
- Comprehend the overall impact vaccinations have had in protecting the population against many infectious diseases.
- Understand the most recent updated information concerning COVID-19 vaccines.
- Discuss the latest CDC vaccine recommendations for health care professionals.
- Understand the rationale for other representative vaccination recommendations, including shingles and human papilloma virus infections.
- Describe the dangers of public misperceptions against vaccines.
