Procurement of infection control and decontamination Items |

For effective infection control, including decontamination, it is important that new items and equipment are of suitable quality and fit for purpose. Reusable instruments must be compatible with the decontamination methods employed by the practice. Single-use items, identified by the symbol shown below, are disposable and not intended to be reprocessed for use on the same or another patient. Note that this symbol will appear on packaging but might not be present on individual items.

Single use items

Examples of items that might have the single-use symbol include endodontic instruments, masks, matrix bands, plastic impression trays, prophy cups and brushes.

The re-use of a single-use device has legal implications. Anyone who reprocesses or re-uses a device intended for use on a single occasion bears full responsibility for its safety and effectiveness.

Health Facilities Scotland have a service providing expert help and advice to anyone within a dentistry 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 NHSScotland (SHTM 01-05) provides information on the National Procurement (NP) 143 framework ‘Decontamination Equipment and Associated Maintenance’ and list of approved manufacturers, that should be used when purchasing equipment and items [2]

Write a policy for the purchase of re-useable items, single-use items and decontamination equipment (see Procurement of Infection Control and Decontamination Items Policy template ).

Document the practice’s specific requirements, price comparisons and advice sought from various manufacturers.

Ensure items are fit for purpose, compatible with existing equipment, easy to decontaminate or clean (e.g. hard surfaces of decontamination equipment), and maintain.

Ensure products have a UKCA or CE mark which signifies the manufacturer’s compliance with the UK Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 [3] and Medical Devices (amendment) (GB) Regulations 2023 [4].

* Note: Following Brexit, new medical devices placed on the GB market will have a UKCA mark. This UKCA mark is a requirement of the Medical Devices Regulations 2021 [3]. The CE mark on older devices will remain valid indefinitely.

Review current decontamination procedures in relation to devices purchased for the first time.

Sources of information

Templates

Procurement of Infection Control and Decontamination Items Policy template