Infection control in dentistry knowledge and practices regarding barrier techniques, post exposure management and prophylaxis: a study

This is a descriptive study conducted at Sardar Begam Dental College, Peshawar from December 2007 to March 2008. The purpose of the study was to assess the perception of cross infection in dental practice among dental surgeons and clinical dental students. Forty three [43] dentists and fifty seven [57] students were interviewed. Seventy nine percent of the participants asked their patients about the medical history, sixty five percent screened their patients for blood viral pathology [HBV, HCV and HIV] before any dental procedure was undertaken. Hundred percent wore and changed gloves during dental treatment between the patients, and ten percent wore goggles and ninety percent face masks routinely. Thirty five percent of the participants had positive history of needle prick injury during their dental carrier and 65 percent disposed off the needles and sharps in safe containers after their use and 84 percent resheath needle after local anesthetic injection