Hygiene Atlas

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Surface barriers

Also called: barrier film, plastic covers, sleeves

Plastic covers on things you touch during care, changed after every patient.

Barriers are plastic wrap, bags, sleeves or plastic-backed paper placed on surfaces that are touched a lot or hard to clean, such as light handles, chair controls, x-ray tube heads, chairside computer keyboards and hoses. They are removed after each patient while you are still gloved, and new ones go on after you clean your hands.

How to spot it

  1. Clear or colored plastic sleeves and adhesive film on the chair, light, unit and computer.

What you do

  1. After removing a barrier, look at the surface; clean and disinfect it only if it got dirty underneath.
  2. If you do not use a barrier, clean and disinfect the surface between patients.

Safety and care

  1. Barriers can tear; replace them if damaged during the visit.

Related

Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)