Infection assessment in private dental clinics of Bandar Abbas in 2006

Introduction: Implementing infection control programs in dental clinics is essential to prevent transmission of infectious agents among personnel and patients. The program usually starts by evaluation of risk factors and is completed by designing a suitable strategy to eliminate them. In this study, we have evaluated the infection control situation in private dental offices in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, during year 2006. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 60 dental offices were investigated in a period of 6 months. A standard questionnaire was used for data gathering (response rate was 82%). The questionnaire contained 46 questions about demographic information, knowledge and practice of dentists related to infection control and hygienic condition of their clinics. Data was analyzed using t-test and pearson correlation coefficient by means of Excel and SPSS softwares. Results: The vaccination rate against hepatitis B was 43.5% among dentists, while 75% of them were not sure about antibody production in their body. The rate of using personal protection equipments and mouth washing solution among dentists were 80% and 15%, respectively. Correct answer to questions on instruments sterilization, proper hand washing and subcutaneous infection control were 74%, 56.7% and 34%, respectively. Special containers were used for infectious disposal in 82% of clinics which only 60% of them were labeled. Seventy four percent of dentists were confident about accurate sterilization of instruments, but 50% of them were not confident that instruments remained sterilized until operation. The average score of knowledge, practice, and hygienic clinics situation in female and male dentists were 10.1± 1.73 and 11.1± 1.79 14.4± 1.40 and 13.6± 1.73 and 16.6± 1.13 and 16± 1.26, respectively. Conclusion: In our quality assessments, the knowledge and practice level of participated dentists were intermediate and environmental health situation of clinics was scored high. According to relationship between knowledge and practice, infection control rate will be promoted using appropriate educational programs.