COVID-19 Contraction Among Dental Healthcare Workers in the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics – A Retrospective Analysis During the Pandemic

• Published in: Risk management and healthcare policy Vol. 15; pp. 1243 - 1252
• Main Authors: Vasan, Purveet Kaur, Shinde, Omkar, Banga, Kulvinder Singh, Basha, Sakeenabi, Karobari, Mohmed Isaqali, Basheer, Syed Nahid, Mirza, Mubashir Baig, Pawar, Ajinkya M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Macclesfield Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Aerosols; Analysis; Body temperature; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Dental care; Dentistry; Disease control; Disease transmission; DNA polymerases; Endodontics; Epidemics; Ethics; Health aspects; Health care; Hospitals; India; Infection; infection control; Infections; Medical personnel; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Nursing; operative dentistry; Original Research; pandemic; Pandemics; Patients; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Students; Workers; India; Mumbai India
• ISSN: 1179-1594; 1179-1594
• DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S368076

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major challenges for the healthcare sector across the globe including dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) due to the increased risk of transmission of virus during aerosol-generating procedures. We conducted the present retrospective analysis determining the risk of contraction of COVID-19 infection among DHCWs since the outbreak of the pandemic for a year (March 2020 through March 2021) in Mumbai. Methods: In total, 18,058 patients visited the Nair Hospital Dental College for dental treatment related to the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics during the assessed year. All the patients were subjected to intensive triage, which included recording their body temperature, oxygen saturation level, travel, and COVID-19 exposure history. Results: A total of 26 DHCWs were responsible for attending and treating the patients with all the standard infection control measures. Seventy-four (0.40%) patients out of 18058 were referred for a nasal rapid antigen test (RAT) on giving a positive affirmation about COVID-19 like symptoms when screened at the triage. Of those 74 patients referred, 20 reported a positive nasal rapid antigen test and the infection was confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Among 26, 9 (34,7%) DCHWs were found to have contracted the infection during the assessed year. Conclusion: The analysis found that the risk of COVID-19 infection contraction amongst the DHCWs is considerably less. This could be attributed to the intensive triage and the preventive measures taken while rendering treatment. Keywords: COVID-19, endodontics, infection control, operative dentistry, pandemic