The importance of protection during decontamination

Together with disposable gloves and sterile disposable gloves for surgery, cut-proof gloves are part of the basic equipment in dental practices.  

Thanks to their resistance to chemicals, cutting and puncture, this particular PPE protects operators when cleaning rooms and equipment, but also during all stages of the treatment and sterilization of instruments – from collection to cleaning, decontamination and bagging.  

Cuts, punctures, lacerations with infected materials or contact with harmful substances are accidents that can occur during daily activity. This is why legislation has made it compulsory to use this PPE, even during work phases that are not strictly medical.

Today, more than ever, operators in charge of decontamination and sterilization must consider the instruments and areas to be treated as potentially dangerous and contaminated, taking all the protective measures required by legislation and necessary to avoid accidents that can lead to damage, contamination and infection. 

Despite the obligatory nature and importance of this PPE, the use of cut-proof gloves is sometimes overlooked. Dental practitioners find them uncomfortable and many avoid using them, preferring alternatives such as normal disposable gloves.  

The main objections regard the nature of the gloves, which are bulkier, thicker and more resistant, resulting in greater difficulty in handling instruments, less grip and generally slower procedures. 

While certainly valid, these inconveniences can be overcome with a little adjustment and practice, but above all with the awareness that the alternative may be injuries, damage or at worst, even serious infections. 

The use of cut-proof gloves, as well as other protective PPE, such as glasses during instrument reprocessing, is of paramount importance for the protection of operators and where cleaning is carried out using ultrasonic tanks, which expose operators to a higher risk of injury and contamination than using a thermodisinfector. 

This is why it is essential, in addition to training for all employees on the protection rules in force, that each practice chooses the right size of cut-proof gloves for its operators, i.e. gloves that are the best fit for the hands of the person who will actually be using them. This is a small but important question that is often overlooked.  

In addition, it is important to remember that this type of glove can be autoclaved and reused several times. Disinfecting your hands (before and after each use) and scheduling a weekly sterilization cycle ensures that you always use cut-proof gloves that are safe, i.e. free of pathogens that may have been deposited on or in the glove.   

Cut-proof gloves are not the only PPE required by legislation to protect those carrying out the decontamination of environments, equipment and instruments. Especially during sterilization processes, it is essential that staff are equipped with: 

• Protective masks for mouth and nose: used to avoid inhalation of potentially infected chemical or biological substances. 
• Waterproof gowns: made of special fabrics able to repel water and liquids of various kinds and stand up to possible contact with corrosive chemical and biological liquids. 
• Protective glasses: used to prevent accidental contact of biological or chemical substances with the delicate structure of the eyes. 

To satisfy this requirement and provide complete protection, Euronda Monoart® has created the Infection Control Kit, a practical and complete solution to provide all the necessary equipment for operators. 

The Infection Control Kit contains all the PPE required to operate safely. The quality of the materials and workmanship of Euronda Monoart® also guarantees comfort and ergonomics, even for the most delicate operations. 

Work safely!