Treatment and disposal of contaminated sharps

Dentists, like other health care workers, make an overt effort to protect themselves and their employees from infectious agents present in the body fluids of their patients. Of special concern are treatment-generated infectious waste materials, such as sharps. Sharps are items such as needles, sutures, scalpel blades, or broken glass which are capable of puncturing, cutting, or abrading tissue. Needles can cause occupational transmission of hepatitis B and AIDS. This article presents methods to safety store, treat, and dispose of sharps. All suggested procedures comply with current Indiana law, CDC guidelines, and EPA and OSHA regulations.