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Decon Pete discusses more simple changes dental practices can make to waste management to be more sustainable. Last month we looked at how the new HTM 07-01 update will impact the way practices think about healthcare waste management. I am starting to see many practices implement the new document as their healthcare waste providers start to…
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Decon Pete discusses how practices can make simple changes to waste management to reduce its carbon footprint. HTM 07-01, which was updated in 2022, has started to come into effect with the introduction of yellow and black ‘tiger’ bags being introduced into dentistry. If you haven’t read the new update and are not aware of…
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This month, Decon Pete discusses why keeping on top of IPC and decontamination is crucial for yourself and your practice. As a core CPD subject, decontamination and infection prevention and control is an area that is always at the forefront of the minds of decontamination leads and the entire dental team. In addition, every practice…
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This month, Decon Pete discusses the recent healthcare waste management updates and the new protocols practices will need to implement. My article in June of this year focused on the newly updated management and disposal of healthcare waste guidelines (HTM 07-01) and what you can expect from it. In this month’s article, I wanted to…
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Decon Pete explains everything that can go wrong when loading your steriliser and how to avoid some common mistakes. This month we are going to focus on the importance of loading your steriliser correctly. Whether you are using an N, S or B class autoclave it is incredibly important to ensure that the chamber is…
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This month, Decon Pete answers frequently asked IPC and decontamination questions, such as how often surgeries should be deep cleaned. Carrying on with the series of articles focusing on the frequently asked questions regarding dental (infection prevention control) IPC and decontamination, I thought that we would delve into the most popular topics that have been…
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From water temperatures to dress codes, Decon Pete continues to answer all of dentistry’s biggest decontamination questions. Carrying on from last month’s article, I wanted to continue covering of some of the most common FAQs that we receive through various channels. I have a digital thermometer for testing water temperatures but what is the correct…
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This month, Decon Pete discusses what every practice needs to know about the safer sharps regulation and why it’s critical to follow it. I get asked a lot of questions about a variety of different subjects of infection prevention and control and decontamination. With this in mind, I thought I would start a series of…
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This month, Decon Pete dives into recent changes to healthcare waste management guidelines and what these might mean for you. There are eight health technical memoranda (HTMs) that are currently in circulation. These cover all aspects of healthcare requirements from decontamination of reusable dental instruments to electrical systems. The Department of Health’s HTM 07-01 focuses…
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This month, Decon Pete outlines everything you need to know when buying washer disinfectors and how to choose the right one for your practice. Whether you are looking to replace a piece of equipment or purchase for the very first time, there are some things that you should consider which will aid your choice and…
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Decon Pete outlines everything you need to know when buying benchtop autoclaves and how to choose the right one for your practice. Whether you are looking to replace a piece of equipment or you’re purchasing for the very first time there are some things that you should consider to aid your choice and ensure you…
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When buying or replacing ultrasonic baths, there are important specifications and guidance you should know. This month, Decon Pete gives hints and tips on how to make the right choice. Whether you are looking to replace a piece of equipment or purchase for the very first time, there are some things that you should consider.…
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From treatment centres to ultrasonic baths, this month Decon Pete breaks down the steps you need to take to recommission your equipment. Last month we discussed the importance of decommissioning equipment before any period of closure or down time, and this month we will discuss how to go about recommissioning everything. We need to ensure…
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With Christmas on the way, this month Decon Pete discusses everything you need to do before you close your practice. Christmas time will soon be upon us, and it will be a chance for us to spend some quality time with friends and families. As Christmas day falls on a Sunday this year, there is…
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This month Decon Pete discusses the best methods to maintain DUWLs and prevent risks of biofilm formation. I get asked a lot of questions from practices around the subject of dental unit water lines (DUWLs) and the best way of maintaining them. Water quality, within dentistry, is an extremely important element that needs to be…
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With less than one month to go until the implementation date on 4 November, Decon Pete asks: are you National Standards of Cleanliness (NSC) ready? In April 2021 NHS England published the National Standards of Cleanliness 2021. This superseded the national specifications for cleanliness 2007. The publication applies to all healthcare settings, including primary care…
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Are you NSC ready? This month, Decon Pete explains everything you need to know about the upcoming implementation date for all healthcare settings, including what you must complete. With only two months to go until the implementation date of Friday 4 November, are you National Standards of Cleanliness (NSC) ready? In April 2021, NHS England…
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IPC standards are crucial for patient and staff safety, but sometimes they can be overlooked on a busy day. This month, Decon Pete breaks down the basics of IPC and the importance of monitoring it. The day to day lives of all members of the dental team can be extremely hectic. Sometimes it can be easy…
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This month Decon Pete discusses the importance of nominating a decontamination lead for the safety and smooth day-to-day runnings of your practice. Whether you are setting up a new practice or owning an existing one, it’s incredibly important that you have a nominated decontamination lead. Sometimes this is often overlooked and, from my experience, also…
