Background: Dental settings pose a crucial risk for the transmission of infections for both dental healthcare providers and their patients. The risk of occupational exposure includes parenteral and respiratory droplet transmission. In order to minimize the risk of cross infection in dental settings, standard infection control precautions should be followed. This study aimed to assess the compliance with infection control practices among dental interns in Alexandria, Egypt.
Methods: The study included 220 dental interns (122 males and 98 females) from different dental settings in Alexandria. A questionnaire was distributed to public and private sectors.
Results: Regarding compliance to personal protective equipment, a 100% adherence to wearing gloves was found. Moreover, 54.3% of males and 45.7% of females always wore masks, but only 27.7% of them wore eye protection during dental procedures. The majority performed hand hygiene after doffing gloves, 69.5% but only 19.1% performed both before donning and after doffing gloves. The occurrence of needle stick injuries was 46.4% from surgical procedures and 36.4% from non- surgical procedures. A 90.0% properly disposed of sharps, while only 24.5% used the scoop technique for recapping. Only 43.2 % interns completed their Hepatitis B vaccination schedule, from which 52.6% undergone antibody testing.
Conclusion: Our study showed that the overall practice of infection-control measures among dental interns in Alexandria was good. Sharps safety regulations, completing HBV vaccination, and antibody post testing need more emphasis. Continuous educational training programs and follow up assessments should be implemented to maximize the compliance of dental healthcare providers.
Key words: Dental interns, Hepatitis B virus Immunization, infection control practices, needles stick injuries, personal protective equipment.
Effect of the Newly Introduced Hepatitis B Vaccination Program on Infection Control Measures
