This course will provide an extensive coverage of the field of infectious diseases and appropriate cross-infection control in the dental surgery. The course is based on the 2010 ADA Infection Control Guidelines and the October 2010 NH&MRC Guidelines, and incorporates the most recent information from the Australian Commission for Quality and Safety in Health Care. The course is geared towards dental assistants but will be of value to all clinical dental staff members. The course runs over a full weekend with 13 hours of lecture content.

Topics to be covered include:

• Risk assessment to cross-infection control
• Transmission of infection
• The health-care establishment
• Infections of importance in the dental workplace
• Immunisation schedules
• Universal precautions
• Confidentiality and discrimination
• Patient and staff screening
• The perspective of the HIV positive person
• Sharps injury protocol
• Post-exposure follow-up/serology
• Incident and accident recording
• The practice log
• The infection control protocol
• New staff orientation
• In service training
• Standard operating procedures
• Recent changes in protocols for hand hygiene and personal protective equipment
• Surgery zone designations and equipment
• Barrier techniques
• Aseptic work practices
• Waterlines and biofilms
• Autoclave quality assurance measures
• The dental laboratory
• Instrument recirculation
• Autoclaves and other sterilisers
• Biological monitors and quality assurance
• Handpieces
• Waste classification
• Disposal
• Local authority regulations
• Dental care of the medically compromised patient
• In-practice infection control audits
• Problem solving and conflict resolution

Participants successfully completing this course and the associtaed tasks will be eligible to receive two full units of competency (HLTIN301A & HLT302A) and be awarded a Statement of Attainment towards the Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT31807) with the Australian Dental Association (Queensland Branch). Details on Application from ADAQ.