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

• Published in: International dental journal Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 17 - 22
• Main Authors: Kearns, H. P. O., Burke, F. J. T., Cheung, S.-W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2001
• Subjects: Cross Infection - prevention & control; Cross-infection control; Dental Auxiliaries - education; Dental Instruments; Dentistry; Disinfectants - therapeutic use; Disinfection; Education, Dental, Continuing; Female; General Practice, Dental; gloves; Gloves, Surgical; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Infection Control, Dental; Inservice Training; Ireland; Latex; Male; Masks; Partnership Practice, Dental; Professional Practice Location; sterilisation of instruments; Sterilization - instrumentation; Sterilization - methods; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Ireland
• ISSN: 0020-6539; 1875-595X
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1875-595X.2001.tb00812.x

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 = 177), 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.