Infection control for dental radiographic procedures in US dental hygiene programmes

Infection control in dental radiographic procedures in US dental hygiene programmes has been investigated by means of a questionnaire and 76% (n = 148) responded. For intra-oral radiography, all but two programmes required the use of gloves during exposure procedures and 94% also required them during processing. Glasses, masks and other protective clothing were required less frequently than gloves. Equipment and working surfaces in the radiographic operatory were generally either disinfected or draped. Equipment and working surfaces in the darkroom were not usually afforded the same degree of diligence in disinfection. Most programmes dried film packets before processing and gave no special treatment to films after processing. Waste products were generally either tied off and marked as a biohazard or sterilized.