Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostics for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their potential impact on dentistry

Dental Update ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 585-590
Author(s):  
Lakshman Samaranayake ◽  
Niraj Kinariwala
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Protective Antibodies

It is clear that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) will be with us for the foreseeable future, possibly entrenched as an endemic infection. This poses a grave threat for clinical dental practice as asymptomatic (viral) carriers unknowing of their status, may attend for treatment with the possibility of resultant disease spread to non-immune individuals in the clinic. Even if one is immune through vaccination, the temporal waning of protective antibodies may lead to mild–moderate variant-induced infection, as shown in a number of recent studies. Hence, it is likely that rapid and accurate identification of COVID-19 patients at the point-of-care (POC), that is in the clinic or during the pre-attendance period, will be a critical imperative in the foreseeable future, as a secondary safeguard, in addition to successful vaccination. There are now an array of POC diagnostic tests to detect SARS-CoV-2, and here we summarize their salient features, and the potential utility as an infection control measure in dentistry. CPD/Clinical Relevance: To describe the currently available POC diagnostic tests for COVID-19, and their utility as a critical infection control measure during dental care delivery in the immediate post-pandemic period.

scholarly journals INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1933-1936
Author(s):  
Imran Samejo ◽  
Gotam Das ◽  
Muhammad Haseeb Rana ◽  
Muhammad Waqar Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Laboratory Work ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Social ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Study Setting

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and infection control practices among private dental laboratories in Karachi. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Private Dental Laboratories of Karachi. Period: 01st September 2017 to 01st February 2018. Materials and Methods: A pre structured questionnaire comprised of 09 questions regarding infection control was used to collect the data. A total 35 questionnaires were given to dental technicians. 29 questionnaires were obtained out of 35 distributed (response rate: 83%). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Gloves were not worn by 76% of respondents while receiving the clinical items. Protective eyeglasses and protective face shield were not worn by 38% and 13% of respondents respectively during laboratory work. Few 13% of respondents were vaccinated against the hepatitis b virus. Clinical items were disinfected by 17% of respondents if not disinfected by dental clinic. Laboratory work was not disinfected by 90% of respondents before sending to clinic. Pumice slurry and water of pressure pot were changed by 6% and 6% respectively. Regarding infection control measure impose financial burden, 83% of respondents were agreed. Conclusion: The knowledge and practices of infection control were poor and below acceptable standards in private dental laboratories.

Occupational Hazards Among Clinical Dental Staff

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Foluso John Owotade ◽  
Adebola Fasunioro
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Cross Infection ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Dental Staff

Abstract Although identification of risks to dental healthcare workers has been explored in several industrialized nations, very little data is available from developing countries. This paper examines the occupational hazards present in the dental environment and reports survey results concerning attitudes and activities of a group of Nigerian dental care providers. A survey on occupational hazards was conducted among the clinical dental staff at the Dental Hospital of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife in Osun State, Nigeria. Thirty eight of the forty staff responded, yielding a response rate of 95%. Subject ages ranged from 26 to 56 years with approximately 25% in the 31-46 year old bracket. All of the staff were aware of the occupational exposure to hazards, and the majority had attended seminars/workshops on the subject. Only five staff members (13.2%) owned a health insurance policy and 26 (68.4%) had been vaccinated against Hepatitis B infection. All dentists (24) had been vaccinated compared with only two non-dentists; this relationship was significant (p= 30.07, x2=0.000). Fourteen members of the clinical staff (36.8%) could recall a sharp injury in the past six months, and the majority (71.1%) had regular contact with dental amalgam. Wearing protective eye goggles was the least employed cross infection control measure, while backache was the most frequently experienced hazard in 47% of the subjects. The need for Hepatitis B vaccinations for all members of the staff was emphasized, and the enforcement of strict cross infection control measures was recommended. The physical activities and body positions that predispose workers to backaches were identified and staff education on the prevention of backaches was provided. Citation Fasunloro A, Owotade FJ. Occupational Hazards Among Clinical Dental Staff. J Contemp Dent Pract 2004 May;(5)2:134-152.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Infection Control Measures in a Public Sector Dental Hospital of Peshawar

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdullah ◽  
Saira Afridi ◽  
Syed Imran Gillani
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Dental Hospital

Objective:To evaluate infection control measure in a public sector dental hospital of Peshawar.Methodology:It was a cross sectional study conducted in Khyber college of Dentistry. Study subjects were Dental health care providers who were willing to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire was designed that included various categories of infection control. Data was entered into SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics were applied and frequencies and percentages were obtained.Results:The results from the data shows that the overall score for the infection control standards were less than 50%. Among the various categories of infection control only personal hygiene standards showed good score (77.3%). Personal protective equipment score was adequate (61%) while hand hygiene score was inadequate (52%). The rest of the categories showed poor scores.Conclusion:The result of the study shows that majority of categories of infection control measures at Khyber college of Dentistry are inadequate or poor.

Effectiveness of environmental decontamination as an infection control measure

2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
pp. 542-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BANI-YAGHOUB ◽  
R. GAUTAM ◽  
D. DÖPFER ◽  
C. W. KASPAR ◽  
R. IVANEK
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Endemic Equilibrium ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Duration Of Infection ◽  
Environmental Decontamination ◽  
Disease Free

SUMMARYThe effectiveness of environmental decontamination (ED) as a measure in the control of infectious diseases is controversial. This work quantifies the effectiveness of ED by analysing the transmission of pathogens from the environment to susceptible hosts in a Susceptible–Infected–Susceptible model. Analysis of the model shows that ED can render a population disease-free only when the duration of infection (D) is within a certain range. As host-to-host transmission rate is increased,Dfalls outside this range and the higher levels of ED have a diminishing return in reducing the number of infected hosts at endemic equilibrium. To avoid this, ED can be combined with other control measures, such as treating infected individuals to push the duration of infection into the specified range. We propose decision criteria and minimum ED efforts required for control policies to be effective.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Personal Protective Measures Adapted by Dental Practitioners in Agra City - A Cross Infection Control Measure

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 128-130
Author(s):  
R Gupta ◽  
NA Ingle ◽  
N Kaur ◽  
HV Dubey ◽  
E Ingle
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Universal Precautions ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
Agra City

ABSTRACT Introduction CDC (Center for Disease Control & prevention), who proposed Universal Precautions, states that “Treat each patient as potentially risk”. Therefore, it is our basic responsibility to control the spread of such devastating diseases by following infection control measures. Aims & Objectives To assess the various personal protective measures adapted by dental practitioners in Agra city and to know how many dentists are vaccinated against Hepatitis B for prevention of the spread of this disease. Materials and Methods The study included response using questionnaire from 150 dental practitioners from Agra city, chosen by random sampling. Questions were related to their personal protective measures employed by the dental practitioners and information about their prophylaxis against Hepatitis B was also obtained. Results Among the dental practitioners, 80% were males. Approximately 82% of the dental practitioners were vaccinated against HBV. Only 6% followed the CDC recommendations for hand washing practices, and about 64% dental practitioners gave wrong answers related to droplet infection. Conclusion Lack of awareness regarding universal precautions proposed by CDC is observed among dental practitioners. There is a great need for creating awareness among dental practitioners.

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