Author/Authors :
Shaghaghian، Soheila نويسنده , , Golkari، Ali نويسنده Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Pardis ، Soheil نويسنده Dept. of Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. , , Rezayi، Ali نويسنده Undergraduate Student, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. ,
Abstract :
Statement of the Problem: Exposure to patients’ blood and body fluids would prone the dental students to the risk of blood borne infections. Several studies have shown a high prevalence of these exposures in dental settings particularly in developing countries. However, few studies have evaluated the epidemiology of these exposures in dental students in Iran.
Purpose: To assess the epidemiology of occupational exposures among dental students and consequently designing the appropriate interventions in order to prevent these exposures.
Materials and Method: In this cross-sectional study performed during March to June 2011, all 191 Shiraz clinical den-tal students were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. This questionnaire included demographic infor-mation and experience of sharp injuries and mucocutaneous contaminations. Chi square and t-test were employed to evaluate the risk factors of exposure.
Results: 80%of the participants were exposed to the patients’ blood or body fluids during their clinical course. No asso-ciation was found between the exposure and demographic factors. Injection needle and recapping were the most com-mon causes of these injuries. The most common sites that were injured and caused mucocutaneous contamination were finger and face, respectively. The most frequent activity causing contamination was using high-speed rotary instruments. Only 6.4% of the exposures had been reported to the related authorities and the remains were underreported.
Conclusion: Blood and body fluid exposure in dental setting is common and a lot of them are not reported. To reduce the hazards of these exposures, infection control authorities should design interventions especially for mentioned high-risk conditions. They should change dental students’ behavior especially regarding not recapping injection needles and using eyewear. Dental schools seem to need a management center and a standard protocol for following up the expo-sures.
