CDC

Safe Injection Practices

Safe injection practices are intended to prevent transmission of infectious diseases between one patient and another, or between a patient and dental health care personnel (DHCP) during preparation and injection of medications. DHCP most frequently handle parenteral medications when administering local anesthesia, during which needles and anesthetic cartridges are used for one patient only, and the dental cartridge syringe is cleaned and heat-sterilized between patients. Other safe practices apply to use of injected medications in IV fluids, such as for patients undergoing conscious sedation. A safe injection does not harm the recipient and does not expose DHCP to any avoidable risks.

Because of reports of transmission of infectious diseases by inappropriate handling of injectable medications, CDC now considers safe injection practices to be a formal element of Standard Precautions.

For more information, visit CDC's Injection Safety website.

References

CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care.pdf[PDF-1M]. Accessed March 31, 2016.

CDC. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings – 2003. MMWR 2003; 52(No. RR-17):1–66. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf[PDF-1M]. Accessed March 18, 2016.

CDC. Injection Safety. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/injectionsafety/providers/provider_faqs_general.html. Accessed March 18, 2016.

Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. 2007 Guideline for isolation precautions: preventing transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings 2007:1–219. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/isolation/Isolation2007.pdf[PDF-1M]. Accessed March 18, 2016.

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