Hand infections in dental personnel. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Hand infections in dental personnel.

Plast Reconstr Surg. 1987 Sep;80(3):420-2. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/87318238
Bleicher JN; Blinn DL; Massop D

Abstract: In an attempt to study the incidence of hand infections in dental personnel, a standardized survey was submitted to 715 dental professionals and hygienists throughout the state of Nebraska. Of those surveyed, 508 responded (71 percent). Ninety-eight of the 508 respondents reported an infection (19.29 percent). The rate of infection was found to correlate positively with the number of patients seen per week. The rate of infection was increased in respondents with chronic disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus) versus those without chronic disease (33.33 vs. 18.59 percent). In the dental professionals surveyed, it was found that the rate of infection in those who did not routinely wear surgical gloves was significantly greater than in those who did (28.6 vs. 17.6 percent). The morbidity of infections acquired in dental practice can be substantial. A percentage of individuals must leave their practice for surgical treatment. A number have acquired hepatitis B (although none in this study), and exposure to the HTLV-III is possible. We conclude that some protection from infection can be achieved with the routine use of surgical gloves, and this practice should be considered by all, particularly those with chronic disease.
Keywords: Communicable Disease Control/METHODS Communicable Diseases/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Comparative Study *Dental Hygienists *Dentists Gloves, Surgical *Hand Human Nebraska Occupational Diseases/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION Questionnaires JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDcommunicablediseasecontrol/methodscommunicablediseases/KWDepidemiology/transmissioncomparativestudyKWDdentalhygienistsKWDdentistsgloves,surgicalKWDhandhumannebraskaoccupationaldiseases/KWDepidemiology/prevention&control/transmissionquestionnairesjournalarticle
871230
M87C0299

Copyright © 1987 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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