Australasian Dentist Issue 89

36 AustrAlAsiAn Dentist proDuCt proFIle How do you know what to use, when to use and how much to use in your surgery on a day-to- day basis? With the impact of the Sars-2- Covid 19 Pandemic, many practitioners have been left wondering these questions. The objective of this article is to give you the correct advice on what is to be used in your surgery. Firstly let’s understand what is a disinfectant? This is an agent that is used to disinfect something: a chemical agent that is used especially on hard surfaces and in water (such as drinking water or wastewater) to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) NOTE: Common chemical disinfectants include chlorine, calcium and sodium hypochlorite, iodophor, phenol, ethanol, and quaternary ammonium compounds. Disinfectants are often distinguished from sterilant by having reduced effectiveness against dormant bacterial endospores. New compounds also include natural based chemical compounds and also Ozone.( https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ disinfectant ) A disinfectant wipe or sponge means a cloth, towel, towelette or sponge that is pre-moistened with a disinfectant and is recommended by its manufacturer for application of the disinfectant to an inanimate object to kill microorganisms ** Virucidal, sporicidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal or other biocidal activity are known as “specific claims”. (https://www.tga.gov.au/ disinfectants-sterilants-and-sanitary-products ) Disinfectants are regulated in a variety of ways in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), depending on the intended purpose of the product as discerned from the claims made in the instructions for use, labelling and promotional material. What are these? Refer to https://www.tga.gov.au/ disinfectants-sterilants-and-sanitary-products 1. Hospital grade or household/ commercial grade disinfectant liquids, sprays, wipes*, sponges and aerosols that do not make specific claims** and that are: u Not intended for use internally or on skin u Not intended for use on a medical device u Are intended for use on inanimate objects such as hard and soft surfaces (for example curtains, floors, bench tops, lounge furniture and carpets) Exempt disinfectant: These products are not required to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before they are supplied to the market,however, they must still meet all regulatory requirements as set out in the relevant legislation and guidance 2. Hospital grade or household/ commercial grade disinfectant liquids, sprays, wipes, sponges and aerosols that make specific claims** to kill microorganisms and that are; u Not intended for use internally or on skin u Not intended for use on a medical device u Are intended for use on inanimate objects such as hard and soft surfaces (for example curtains, floors, bench tops, lounge furniture and carpets) ** Refer to the TGA claim guide https:// www.tga.gov.au/publication/disinfectant-claim- guide-specific-claims-and-non-specific-claims Listed disinfectant: These products are required to be included in the ARTG before they are supplied to the market and must meet all regulatory requirements as set out in the relevant legislation and guidance. 3. Liquids, sprays, wipes and aerosols that are intended to be used on medical devices Medical devices: These products must be included in the ARTG as a Class IIb medical device before they can be supplied. These are also referred to as Instrument Grade Disinfectants. 4. Cleaners intended to be used on medical devices that do not claim to be a device disinfectant or sterilant. Medical devices: These products must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as a Class I medical device before they can be supplied. 5. General cleaners in all forms without disinfectant claims. General consumer product, these products are not regulated by the TGA. The following products are excluded from regulation under different legislative mechanisms: u Disinfectant and sterilant gases u Products represented to be for antifungal use only u A disinfectant or sanitiser registered under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (link is external) for which no claim or representation for disinfectant use is made other than a use which is registered for the disinfectant u Disinfectants or sanitisers that are represented to be suitable for the treatment of drinking water only u Contact lens care products (https://www.tga.gov.au/ disinfectants-sterilants-and-sanitary-products) In summary regarding the use of disinfectants within a surgery; you can use a hospital grade disinfectant with or without claims to wash the floors, clean the carpets, wash your windows and potentially wipe some benches. You cannot use Hospital Grade Disinfectants to wipe down, spray, disinfect place on any medical device. That is your chair, instruments, lights, instruments, prep benches, models, impressions, molds, models, articulators, dentures or nay other device or product classified as a medical device. For medical devices, you must use, a spray, wipe liquid or material that is classified the disinfectant dilemma By Dr Roy J Hardman Dr Roy J Hardman