Author/Authors :
Bortoluzzi, Marcelo Carlos Department of Dentistry - School of Dentistry - Ponta Grossa State University, Brazil , Cadore, Peterson Department of Stomatology - School of Dentistry - West of Santa Catarina University, Brazil , Gallon, Andrea Department of Stomatology - School of Dentistry - West of Santa Catarina University, Brazil , Imanishi, Soraia Almeida Watanabe Department of Stomatology - School of Dentistry - West of Santa Catarina University, Brazil
Abstract :
Background: More than 200 different diseases may be transmitted from exposure to blood in the dental setting.
The aim of this study is to identify possible faults in the crosscontamination chain control in a dental school clinic searching for traces of blood in the clinical contact surfaces (CCS) through forensic luminol blood test.
Methods: Traces of invisible blood where randomly searched in CCS of one dental school clinic.
Results: Forty eight surfaces areas in the CCS were tested and the presence of invisible and remnant blood was identified in 28 (58.3%) items.
Conclusions: We suggest that the luminol method is suitable for identifying contamination with invisible blood traces and this method may be a useful tool to prevent cross-contamination in the dental care setting.
Keywords :
Blood , bloodborne pathogens , cross‑contamination , dental setting , dentistry
