Infection Prevention as a Functional System

A Colorful Approach to Infection Control

Any cleaning protocol adopted by a dental practice needs a solid plan behind it to ensure every area in the operatory is consistently cleaned and disinfected after each patient. Among other governing bodies, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) maintains strict guidelines for infection control practices in dentistry—from the proper use of personal protective equipment and instrument reprocessing to safe injection practices and how many colony forming units per ml should be present in dental unit waterlines.

 
How can a color-coded system help create a culture of safety?

Cleanliness and infection control are more important than ever to patients entering the dental operatory - whether their appointment is for a recall or implant therapy. Whichever infection prevention protocol is chosen should create simplicity and efficiency for the dental team and peace of mind for patients.

One method for creating confidence in your dental practice cleaning protocol is dividing the products used to clean and disinfect instruments, operatory surfaces, dental equipment and to sanitize hands into distinct color groups. It eliminates the guesswork and makes it easy to use the right product for each application. Adopting a color-coded system can help achieve infection control compliance by rounding up and labeling all the areas of the operatory that need cleaning, thus ensuring that every instrument, dental chair, surface, and waterline is accounted for. This system also simplifies training new dental team members and reduces the risk of cross-contamination.
 
Color-coding (for example, using green, blue, yellow and pink) creates a functional, coordinated, and easier system to follow, even for those less practiced at infection prevention procedures and treatment room turn over.
 
GREEN: 
Wipes and sprays with green lids like the Monarch Surface Disinfectants are easily identifiable as those that can be used to quickly kill a broad spectrum of pathogens on hard nonporous surfaces.

 
BLUE:
The blue labeled products are for instrument cleaning. An effective multi-enzymatic cleaning concentrate like the Monarch Enzymatic Cleaner will effectively remove blood, tissue, fats, carbs, sugars, and other debris from surgical instruments before sterilization. The Monarch Safety Tray with its blue lid facilitates easy and safe transport of instruments to the processing area. 

YELLOW: 
The yellow labeled product Monarch CleanStream is used with wet or dry vacuum systems to remove line build-up enhancing vacuum performance and suction and cleans and deodorizes evacuation lines.
The Monarch Lines Cleaner removes biofilm from DUWLs containing odor-causing bacteria without using harsh or aggressive chemicals, ensuring valves are safe from corrosion and staining.

PINK: 
Pink labeled products such as the Monarch Hand Sanitizer protect those performing infection prevention procedures. The sanitizer formula kills 99.99% of widespread germs. It is a waterless, alcohol-based gel with aloe vera for smooth application and a silky feel, and doesn’t leave a residue. 

 
Using systems for infection prevention that function together helps create a culture of safety within the dental practice.