A survey of preventive measures against infection risk in dental surgery

In dental healthcare surgeries, both workers and patients are regularly exposed to various infectious agents. It is essential therefore that dental healthcare workers have a good knowledge of disinfection systems and that dentists' surgeries be effectively managed so as to reduce or even eliminate the risk of cross infections. In order to evaluate infectious risk prevention methods and describe the procedures used by dental healthcare workers on a daily basis, a sample of dentists who work in public surgeries were asked to anonymously fill up a questionnaire. The results of this survey show that dental healthcare workers are sufficiently well-informed about the infectious hazards present in the workplace and are aware of the high risk of exposure to infections but seem to be especially concerned about blood-borne infections (hepatitis, AIDS). Only 67.5%, however, are immunised against HBV. Individual safety devices are used correctly while there seems to be a lack of knowledge about the proper use of disinfection and sterilization systems. In addition, some dental healthcare workers still today refuse to treat HIV-positive patients.