Earlier this month we reported that the National Patient Safety Alert System had identified a risk of infection when using FFP3 respirators with valves or Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) during surgical and invasive procedures resulting in several required actions, including that valved FFP3 respirators and PAPR hoods should be replaced by the end of November.
There was some uncertainly at the time whether this alert was relevant and applicable to primary care dental providers.
The BDA is now reporting that they have received clarification from Public Health England that “The MHRA safety alert will only apply to dentistry in situations where an FFP3 is worn. Specifically, while carrying out surgical procedures when sterility directly over the surgical field is required (e.g. in theatres). It is unlikely that this alert will apply to situations where FFP3s are worn while carrying out surgical procedures in primary care settings.” and “(we) do not see this applying to CDS services doing extractions, for example, in a theatre”.
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