I have a disinfectant spray at home. It is kept in a cupboard under the sink. It is called ‘Dettol disinfectant kitchen spray’. On the label it lists all the names of the horrible bugs that it kills within seconds of spraying it on a kitchen surface. What a relief to know that I can exterminate millions of aliens so quickly and easily. It smells so clean and nice. Just close your eyes and SPRAY.

Have you ever wondered where all those dead bugs go afterwards? I understand they don’t go to heaven, after all these are dead bad bugs, but I am pretty sure they don’t go to hell either, so what happens to all those little dead bodies? Now I appreciate this is not a pleasant subject to talk about, but, what about all the other solids left on my kitchen surfaces, do they need to be cleaned off as well, or can I sleep peacefully in the knowledge that they are dead, and whatever is dead can do me no harm to me? YES THEY CAN. Even the dead bodies of bacteria are poisonous.

MY KITCHEN HAS TO LOOK ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE CLEAN AT ALL TIMES.  Every part of it must be scrubbed, washed, wiped and sprayed with every safe disinfectant known to man. All food must be boxed, wrapped, refrigerated, tinned and labelled before it is used. Every saucepan, bowl and plate, every knife fork and spoon must be placed in a dishwasher at 60’C for two hours before they can be stored in my kitchen. (My wife even washes the plates before she puts then in the dishwasher!)

Are you the same? Yes of course you are. You have no need of scientific papers and evidence based research. You know when something is clean and safe to use and no-one can tell you otherwise. Admittedly you may go beyond the pale at times and clean three times when only once will do; But who cares? This is YOUR kitchen and it is the health and safety of YOUR family that matters most.

SHOULD YOU EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FOR YOUR DENTAL PRACTICE?

You will be pleased to know that a new government body called ‘The Care Quality Commission’ has laid down tough new guidelines for dentists. All dental surgeries will be inspected in 2011 and any practice not complying with the new infection control guidelines can be closed down. The building work will be expensive and the new procedures arduous. In the past dentists have always decontaminated their instruments in their operating rooms, but from now on, it must be done in a separate purpose built room. There are regulations on how these rooms should be designed and operated.

WE AT HAYNESDENTAL ARE WELL ADVANCED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW DECONTAMINATION ROOM

Not only does our room comply with all regulations but we have gone the extra mile.

Just like you in your kitchen we have not waited for scientific papers and evidence based research. Not only will instruments be processed with washer-disinfectors running at 90’C for one hour and then placed in an autoclaved at 134’C in a vacuum, but they will be rinsed in grade 1 reverse osmosis water. (RO water) manufactured by ourselves. The room will be kept as clean as your kitchen and all instruments stored in sterile packets.

Reverse osmosis water is the cleanest water known to man and we use it because it is ineffective just to kill bugs in boiling water. Even the dead bodies of bacteria are dangerous. Prions which cause CJD (mad cow disease) are non-living proteins and must be thoroughly washed away with RO water. Neither cooking, heating or pressurising can render a prion harmless.

So our decontamination room is number one.

Where do bugs go when they die? Not in your kitchen or our Decontamination Room.

Peter Haynes, 10th May 2010