Document 0849
 DOCN  M95A0849
 TI    Compliance to recommended infection control procedures: changes over six
       years among British Columbia dentists.
 DT    9510
 AU    Gibson GB; Mathias RG; Epstein JB; Division of Hospital Dentistry,
       Faculty of Dentistry, University; of British Columbia.
 SO    J Can Dent Assoc. 1995 Jun;61(6):526-32. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95339278
 AB    Over the last decade, in response to the heightened awareness of HBV and
       HIV infections, world health authorities have produced specific
       infection control recommendations for dental practices. Surveys have
       been done in various countries to investigate the level of compliance to
       these recommendations. This paper reports on the changes in compliance
       over a six year period among British Columbia dentists, as indicated
       from four volunteer surveys conducted between 1987 and 1993. During that
       period, the percentage of dentists who reported taking a medical history
       for each new patient increased from 70 per cent to 99 per cent. The
       routine use of gloves increased from 61 per cent to 95 per cent, and of
       face masks from 49 per cent to 83 per cent. In 1993, most dentists (91
       per cent) used a new pair of gloves with each patient, up from 62 per
       cent three years earlier. Dentists also reported on their sterilization
       and hygiene methods. Autoclavable handpieces were used by 66 per cent of
       respondents in 1990, and by 74 per cent in 1993. High-speed autoclavable
       handpieces were used by 83 per cent of dentists in 1993, but only 62 per
       cent sterilized these handpieces. Similarly, 65 per cent reported using
       low-speed autoclavable handpieces, but only 47 per cent sterilized them.
       It is apparent that disinfection of handpieces and intraoral instruments
       is still an important part of regular operatory hygiene. Biologic
       monitors were used by 61.6 per cent of respondents to test the
       efficiency of their office sterilizer in 1993.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
       WORDS)
 DE    Adult  *Attitude of Health Personnel  British Columbia
       Dentists/*PSYCHOLOGY  Equipment Contamination/PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Female  Hepatitis B/PREVENTION & CONTROL  Human  Infection
       Control/METHODS/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Male  Protective
       Clothing/*UTILIZATION  Questionnaires  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       Universal Precautions/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Vaccination/STATISTICS &
       NUMER DATA/UTILIZATION  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).