Infection Control Standards in Private Dental Practice - The Role of Accreditation

There are established standards for the management of infection control in private dental practices, but there is currently no proactive legislation to oversee correct adherence to those standards. The Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme (Scheme) promotes a quality and safety management program that includes attention to the prevention of healthcare acquired infections, but adoption of the Scheme is not compulsory for all. A recent case brought before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal demonstrated the seriousness of breaches of infection control standards and the considerable costs of managing the consequences. This article discusses the role of quality and safety assurance programs in the context of private dental practice regulation; compares the different quality and safety assurance schemes operating in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and argues that the compulsory adoption of an appropriate scheme which focuses on infection control would be in the public interest.