Dental infection control violations - an analysis of GDC Fitness to Practise cases between 2014-2018

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and content of General Dental Council Fitness to Practise cases associated with infection control. Methods Data were collected via freedom of information requests to the GDC about Fitness to Practise cases concerning infection control between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. Results Less than 1% of Fitness to Practise cases during the period concerned infection control. Of these, less than half were primarily about infection control failings. Most registrants were male dentists who had graduated more than 20 years ago. The most frequent failing was poor hand hygiene and inappropriate glove use. Discussion Violations are workplace errors where rules are intentionally broken. A combination of pressures including financial and performance have been cited as factors that can lead workers away from working to standards and adopting unsafe practice. To avoid infection control violations in dentistry standards should be realistic and achievable, training provided and a workplace culture that takes safety seriously. Conclusion Only a small number of registrants - mostly dentists - end up before the GDC Professional Conduct Committee on charges pertaining to infection control, but when they do the outcome is normally career-ending.