University of California San Francisco
Infection prevention and safety practices
Delivering excellent oral health care begins with a safe clinical environment. At the UCSF School of Dentistry, infection prevention is a shared responsibility that protects patients, students, faculty, and staff.
Everyday steps to reduce risk
You can take several steps to stay healthy and reduce the risk of illness among coworkers and patients:
- Keep immunizations up to date
- Follow established hand hygiene protocols
- Stay home if you are sick
- Screen patients for symptoms of illness, such as flu or colds, and reschedule appointments when appropriate
Standard Precautions are followed for delivery of safe dental care for all patients
Standard Precautions include:
- Hand hygiene protocols
- Appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Respiratory Hygiene practices
- Safe Injection practices
- Sterilization of instruments used in patient care
- Environmental cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, use of appropriate surface barriers, and appropriate disposal of regulated waste
- Ensuring dental water safety
When to contact Infection Prevention
If you suspect a patient has a serious infectious disease, immediately contact the clinic supervisor, SOD Director of Health and Safety and the UCSF Medical Center’s Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Prevention (HEIP).
SOD Director of Health and Safety – Ramneek Rai, DDS: ramneek.rai@ucsf.edu
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
UCSF Health West Bay (Parnassus, Mt. Zion, BCHSF General Questions): Tel: (415) 353-4343
HEIP: https://infectioncontrol.ucsfmedicalcenter.org/contact-us
After hours:
- ML Hospital Supervisor Spectralink (415) 353-8036 or (415) 353-1964
- MB Adult Hospital Clinical Resource Nurse (415) 502-0562