Cross-infection control in dental practice in the Republic of Ireland

✍ Scribed by H. P. O. Kearns; Dr. F. J. T. Burke; S.-W. Cheung

• Publisher: FDI World Dental Federation
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 814 KB
• Volume: 51
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0020-6539
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1875-595x.2001.tb00812.x

✦ Synopsis

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to examine the infection control procedures used in general dental practices in the Republic of Ireland. Design: Postal survey. Setting: The Republic of Ireland. Participants: 250 general dental practices. Methods: Postal questionnaire. Main outcome measures: Use of infection control procedures; gloves, masks, sterilisation of instruments, staff training. Results: A 74% response rate (n=l77), with 162 wearing gloves for all patients, 97% of whom used latex gloves. Routine glove use by 69% of dental nurses. Approximately one third of respondents complained of hand skin irritation attributed to the wearing of latex gloves. Routine mask wearing during treatment was reported by 68% of respondents. The method of choice for sterilising instruments was the steam autoclave for 97%. Time spent on surgery cleaning between patients was less than one minute in 12 per cent of practices. Conclusions: Cross-infection control procedures practised by a high proportion of the respondents to the survey conform to guidelines suggested by various authorities. Further education may be appropriate in a number of areas such as mask wearing and the need to change gloves between patients.