The Health and Safety – Infection Control topic has been reviewed and updated. The topic has been renamed as “Infection Prevention and Control” to reflect terminology used in wider Infection Prevention and Control guidance in health care settings.
The Infection Prevention and Control topic within the PSM has undergone a full review. All pages within the topic have been reviewed apart from those relating to Managing Decontamination in the Dental Practice, which were previously updated in 2024 following publication of Management, equipment, and process of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05) Parts A, B and C.
All of the Infection Prevention and Control topic templates have been amended to meet current accessibility requirements. For templates where additional changes have been made, the templates have been given a new date, as reflected in the file name of each template. For templates where there have been no other changes, the templates have not been redated. More information on the status of each template can be found on the Infection Prevention and Control templates home page.
Changes to the IPC subtopics pages:
Infection Prevention and Control in dental practice
- Clarification of Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) and Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs).
Infection Prevention and Control policy
- Changes to some template names, to align with NHS Scotland: National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) terminology (e.g. Cleaning the care environment and care equipment policy).
Health clearance and immunisation
- Explanation of additional health clearance checks for dental nurses who provide Exposure Prone Procedures (EPPs).
- Updates to reflect the newest version of Integrated Guidance on health clearance, including:
- Changes to reporting requirements to UK Advisory Panel (UKAP) for health care workers with Blood Borne Viruses (BBV).
- Amended wait times and testing requirements for those Health Care Workers (HCWs) with BBVs prior to undertaking EPPs.
Training in Infection Prevention and Control
- Clarification that Public Services Delivery (Scotland) (PSDS) (formerly NES) Quality Improvement in Practice Training (QIiPT) team training is a requirement of the Combined Practice Inspection.
- Updates to references.
- Inclusion of links to NIPCM hand hygiene posters.
- Link to NIPCM “Hand hygiene: Products Literature Review” for guidance on suitable products for hand hygiene (e.g. hand soap and hand rub).
Occupational exposure management (including sharps)
- Updated advice for placement of sharps boxes and use of temporary closure mechanisms.
- Updates to references.
- Terminology amended to align with NIPCM SICPs for the care environment, care equipment and blood spillages.
Decontamination of dental instruments
- Updated in 2024, in line with SHTM 01-05. Management, equipment, and process of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05)
- No further changes to content. Minor clarification to structure.
Managing Decontamination in Dental Practice (MDDP)
- Updated in 2024, in line with SHTM 01-05. Management, equipment, and process of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05)
- No further changes to content. Minor clarification to structure.
Procurement of items for Infection Prevention and Control
- Additional details of requirements for UKCA or CE compliance marks on equipment under UK Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 and Medical Devices (amendment) (GB) Regulations 2023.
Disinfection of impressions and appliances before dispatch
Decontamination of equipment and instruments before repair
Dispatching biopsy/pathology specimens
- Clarification of packaging requirements.
Infection Prevention and Control for domiciliary visits
- No changes to content. Minor amendments to structure.