ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to assess infection control practices among dentists and dental nurses in dental clinics and identify factors that influence infection control practices in dental clinics. The study was carried out in 15 dental clinics of the Ministry of Health and population of regional hospital in Quesena and Shebin El-Kom. A convenient sample comprised of 31 dentists, 44 dental nurses and 50 patients of both sexes in the previously mentioned setting were selected during the time of data collection. Four tools were utilized for data collection. Tool 1: Infection control practice: Structured questionnaire sheet: developed by the researchers and it includes two parts in addition to sociodemographic data. Tool 2: Infection control practice for dentists and nurses: Observational checklist: It was developed to assess infection control practices of dentist and dental nurses. It include 4 parts. Tool 3: Infection control practice for dentists and nurses: Bacteriological assessment sheet that developed by the researchers to collect data about bacterial count and types present in dentists, dental nurses and dental patients hands and noses and different instruments used in the patient treatment it include 3 parts. Tool 4: Factors influence infection control practices for dentists and nurses. It included 3 parts. Showed that there were significantly higher percentage of nurses gave incorrect answers regarding standard precautions, types of protective barriers, differences between cleaning, disinfection and sterilization and method of sterilization than dentists. But there was significantly higher percentage of nurses gale collect answers regarding method of cleaning instrument than dentists. Also it was revealed that, 100% of dentists followed infection control practices regarding short clean fingers nails, wearing new gloves, changing gloves between patients, disposing contaminated gloves before handling none clinical items and using disposable instruments, while the most infection control practices among nurses were having short clean finger nails followed by using disposable instrument and disposing contaminated gloves before handling non clinical items. Staph areus was significantly higher in the hands and nose of patients than dentists and dental nurses. Moreover, Staph epidermis was significantly higher in the hands of patients than dentists and nurses. There was significantly poor practice scoring among females than males, diploma than faculty and who work in an area of bad ventilation. Most of dentists and dental nurses followed the precautions of infection control in some aspects as short clean fingers and wearing new gloves, changing gloves between patients and disposing contaminated gloves before handling non clinical items. But, other aspects such as hepatitis B immunization and post immunization test remain problems. Wearing masks and protective eyewear were very poor. The practice of recapping needles requires particular attention. Staph areus was significantly higher among hands and nose of patient than dentists and dental nurses