Decontamination of instruments is a multistage process that involves cleaning, thermal disinfection, inspection and sterilization. Suitable facilities, equipment and trained personnel are required to carry out these processes.
As part of a national initiative to promote and standardise good decontamination practice, Health Facilities Scotland provides guidance specifically for dental practices entitled Management, equipment, and process of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05).
Health Facilities Scotland offers a service that provides expert help and advice to anyone setting up a local decontamination unit (LDU) and/or purchasing new decontamination equipment [1]. Part A of the Management, equipment, and process of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHS Scotland (SHTM 01-05) provides information on the National Procurement (NP) 143 framework ‘Decontamination Equipment and Associated Maintenance’ and a list of approved suppliers that should be used when purchasing equipment and items.
Guidance on local decontamination units [2,3] and a framework to support staff training and development in decontamination [4] are also available.
An effective system for the management of decontamination, with the associated documentation, helps to ensure national standards for decontamination are consistently met and provides a means of demonstrating that this is being achieved.
Refer to the Health Facilities Scotland Management, equipment, and process of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05) guidance. for detailed advice on setting up and carrying out instrument decontamination. Use Managing Decontamination in Dental Practice when reviewing or setting up a system for decontamination management.
Write a policy that states the practice’s arrangements for decontamination (see Decontamination Policy and Procedures template). Include details of:
- the facilities
- staff training
- transporting instruments within the practice
- instrument cleaning and inspection
- instrument sterilization
- equipment testing and maintenance
- the management of decontamination failures
Put together written practice procedures that describe:
- segregation of instruments immediately after use in the surgery
- each cleaning method used (e.g. washer disinfector, ultrasonic cleaner, manual cleaning)
- inspection of cleaned instruments
- steam sterilization and instrument storage
- equipment testing
- how decontamination failures are dealt with
Ensure staff are familiar with the practice’s decontamination policy and follow the related procedures.
Sources of information
- Decontamination – Local decontamination units (Scottish Health Planning Note (SHPN 13 – Part 2) Health Facilities Scotland (2008)
- Management, equipment and processes of the decontamination of dental instruments in a Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05)
- Compliant Dental Local Decontamination Units in Scotland (Version 2 GUID 5005). Health Facilities Scotland (2019)
- Framework to Support Staff Development in the Decontamination of Re-usable Medical Devices. NHS Education for Scotland (2016) Applicable to staff in NHS Boards and the independent sector, including general dental practices.