The following words or terms, when used in Subchapter B, Sanitation
and Infection Control, shall have the following meanings, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. The definitions of the terms health care worker,
exposure-prone, invasive-procedure, and universal precautions, as those terms
are defined in the Texas Health and Safety Code, §85.202, as amended
Acts 72nd Legislature, First Called Session, Section 36, Chapter 41 (1991),
(hereinafter referenced as "THSC, §...") and guidelines from the Centers
for Disease Control, ("CDC") as applied to the practice of dentistry, are
incorporated herein by reference.
(1) Barrier techniques--the use of protective items against
infection-transmission during any intraoral or invasive procedure to include
appropriate gloves for the procedure performed. This definition shall include
protective eye wear and nasal/oral masks when "splash, spatter, or aerosol"
of body fluids is possible or expected.
(2) Disinfection--the partial elimination of active growth
stage bacteria and the inactivation of some viruses. The potential for infections
remains after disinfection, including infection with M. tuberculosis, hepatitis
A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). The human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) may also remain active following disinfection.
(3) Sterilization--a process by which all forms of life within
a defined environment are completely destroyed.
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