International guidelines for controlling aerosol infections in dental services: which countries were prepared?
 
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Secretaria de Saúde Pública do Rio Grande do Norte (SESAP-RN), Brazil
 
 
Publication date: 2023-04-27
 
 
Popul. Med. 2023;5(Supplement):A2074
 
ABSTRACT
Bioaerosols are frequently present in the dentistry routine activities and represent a risk for a series of infectious diseases, such as influenza, tuberculosis, varicella, and COVID-19. Aiming at health security in dental services, important measures were highlighted in international recommendations. To verify the existence of universal standards in dental practice around the world, airborne infection control guidelines, developed before the year 2020, adopted by 29 countries based on 8 requirements for protection against dental aerosols were reviewed. A score of 0 and 1 (presence and absence, respectively) was adopted for the analysis of the following protocol items: (1) heating and ventilation system (HVAC), (2) mask, (3) respirator (N95 OR PFF2), (4) rubber dam, (5) antiseptic mouthwash, (6) high suction system, (7) physical barriers for equipment/furniture protection, and (8) disinfection of waterlines. Among the protocols, only 5 obtained the maximum score. Only the use of a surgical mask was present in all recommendations. In a general way, there was no international consensus on measures to prevent airborne infection. The evidence regarding the risk of aerosol infections in dental services, the context of the pandemic faced worldwide, calls for a standardization of the norms related to airborne infection control guidelines in the clinical area where dental procedures will be performed.
ISSN:2654-1459
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