SDCEP Decontamination & Infection Control Guide for ORE Part 1

1. Why SDCEP Decontamination Matters for ORE Part 1

In ORE Part 1 Paper B, infection control and instrument decontamination questions account for a significant portion of the syllabus. UK regulations, governed by HTM 01-05 (Health Technical Memorandum 01-05) and guidance from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), set strict standards for primary care dental practices.

2. The Decontamination Cycle

Decontamination follows a strict, sequential 5-stage process:

1. Transport: Used instruments must be transported to the Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) in covered, leak-proof containers.
2. Cleaning: Automated cleaning via a Washer-Disinfector is the preferred method. Ultrasonic baths are secondary, while manual scrubbing is discouraged due to sharp injury risks.
3. Inspection: Instruments must be inspected under illuminated magnification for residual protein or damage before sterilization.
4. Sterilization: Saturated steam sterilization in an autoclave.
5. Storage: Wrapped or unwrapped instrument storage protocols according to practice standard (Essential vs Best Practice).

3. Autoclave Types & Sterilization Parameters

Sterilization in UK dental practice is defined by specific holding times and temperatures:

• Type N (Non-vacuum): Suitable for unwrapped, solid instruments only. Cannot sterilize hollow handpieces or lumened items.
• Type B (Vacuum): Uses pre-vacuum air removal. Can sterilize wrapped items, hollow handpieces, and porous loads.

4. Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs) & Legionella

DUWLs must be maintained to prevent Legionella pneumophila biofilm formation. Waterlines should be flushed for 2 minutes at the start of the day and for 20–30 seconds between patients.