PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of infection control education on dental hygienists'perceptions for hepatitis B and their behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study participants were chosen by random selection among dental hygienists working in Seoul, Korea. A total of 150 questionnaires were sent out for the survey from April 2013 to May 2013, of which 140-excluding incomplete responses-were used for the study. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used (SPSS 19.0), and post-hoc analysis was performed as well. The maximum significance level was 0.05. RESULTS: Average 1.53 times infection control education was taken, but dental hygienists' perceptions for hepatitis B and their behaviors did not show statistical differences whether the education was done or not. Practices to prevent infection showed differences depending on categories, especially disinfection and sterilization were well performed by educated group. The most common reasons for not taking the education and noncompliance with infection prevention guidelines are lack of time and opportunity due to busy schedule. CONCLUSION: 1. The more highly educated, the greater number of patients per day, and the greater size of hospitals, the better infection control education was conducted. 2. Although hepatitis B is one of the most common chronic liver diseases in Korea, no significant correlation between perceptions of hepatitis B and infection control education was found. 3. Dental hygienists who received infection control education performed more efficient practices for protection against infections than those who did not.
Appointments and Schedules ; Dental Hygienists ; Disinfection ; Education* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Infection Control* ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Sterilization

Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; Dental Instruments ; microbiology ; Equipment Contamination ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Sterilization

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the dentist's awareness and the actual status of infection control of noncritical dental instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 dental clinics in Daejeon, South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong and North Jeolla provinces were surveyed. The questionnaire was delivered to the dentists belonging to those clinics, and the awareness and the practice of infection control were examined. The microbial contamination on the surface of five noncritical instruments (impression gun, light curing unit, 3-way syringe, shade guide, and dental floss dispenser) used by them was measured with an ATP luminometer. Correlation analysis between the awareness and the actual state of infection control was conducted. RESULTS: Awareness and frequency of infection control was highest in the 3-way syringe. Surface disinfection using disinfectant was most frequent in all instruments. 3-way syringes and shade guides were less contaminated than impression guns, light curing units, and dental floss dispensers. CONCLUSION: 3-way syringes had a significant correlation between user awareness of infection control and surface contamination, and the higher awareness, the lower the contamination measurement was shown.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Devices, Home Care ; Dental Instruments ; Dentists ; Disinfection ; Firearms ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Syringes

In-depth knowledge of disinfection and sterilization is a key component of infection control. Sterilization completely removes a spore, whereas disinfection cannot. Disinfectants are classified as oxidants and non-oxidants. The decision regarding which method to apply is based on Spaulding's classification. In this article, disinfection and sterilization are thoroughly reviewed, and extensive information from basic to practical points is discussed.
Classification ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection* ; Infection Control ; Methods ; Oxidants ; Spores ; Sterilization*

In-depth knowledge of disinfection and sterilization is a key component of infection control. Sterilization completely removes a spore, whereas disinfection cannot. Disinfectants are classified as oxidants and non-oxidants. The decision regarding which method to apply is based on Spaulding's classification. In this article, disinfection and sterilization are thoroughly reviewed, and extensive information from basic to practical points is discussed.
Classification ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection* ; Infection Control ; Methods ; Oxidants ; Spores ; Sterilization*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite (1 : 10) and iodophor disinfectants on alginate impressions along with their effect on the survived bacterium count on the gypsum cast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four alginate impression on each dentate patients were made, of which Group I were not washed or disinfected, Group II impressions were merely washed with water, Group III were disinfected by spraying with sodium hypochlorite (1 : 10), Group IV were disinfected with iodophor (1 : 213). Gypsum cast (type III) were made from all the impression. Impressions and gypsum cast were swabbed in mid palatal region for bacterial culture. Bacterial colony counting done after 3 days of incubation at 37degrees C in blood agar media. The data obtained was analyzed by one way ANOVA test at a significant difference level of 0.05. RESULTS: Group I and Group II showed significantly more bacteria compared to Group III and Group IV. Bacterial colonies on the alginate impression and gypsum cast in group disinfected with Sodium hypochlorite (1 : 10) were 0.18, 0.82 respectively compared to group treated with iodophor (1 : 213). There was an increase in bacterial count on dental cast compared to source alginate impressions. CONCLUSION: Sodium hypochlorite (1 : 10) was found to be better disinfectant for alginate impression. There was an indication of increase in number of bacteria from alginate impression to making of dental cast. Additional gypsum cast disinfectant procedures need to be encouraged to completely eliminate cross infection to dental laboratory.
Agar ; Alginates ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Load ; Calcium Sulfate ; Cross Infection ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection ; Glucuronic Acid ; Hexuronic Acids ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Laboratories, Dental ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Water

OBJECTIVETo understand current status of the uses of dental handpieces, methods of disinfection and sterilization and their effectiveness in dental-care hospitals and out-patient departments of stomatology in general hospitals.

METHODSTen dental-care hospitals and departments of stomatology in general hospitals at varied levels were randomly sampled during 2000 to 2001 to investigate the uses of dental handpieces and means of their disinfection and sterilization. One used dental handpiece from each hospital or department of stomatology in general hospital selected was detected for possible contamination of bacteria by aerobic bacterial count and Coliform bacterial examinations and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) on it, based on "The Technical Standards for Disinfection" set by the Ministry of Health of China, and the effectiveness of its disinfection and sterilization was evaluated as well.

RESULTSAnti-suction handpieces were used only in 5.9% of the hospitals or departments, 94.1% of them without anti-suction devices. Cleansing disinfection was applied for used dental handpieces in 62.9% of the dental-care hospitals and the departments of stomatology, with an effective rate of 26.17%, immersing disinfection in 10.0%, with an effective rate of 55.88%, and autoclave in 27.1%, with an effective rate of 80.43%. Used dental handpieces in the hospitals and departments of stomatology in general hospitals were all contaminated by bacteria and HBsAg could be detected in 1.67% of them.

CONCLUSIONSDental handpieces without anti-suction should be replaced soon by those with it or comprehensive dental unit with anti-suction device should be used. Used dental handpieces must be sterilized effectively before next use. Awareness on prevention from cross-infection should be improved for dental-care professional staff and operation of sterilization should be standardized.

Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; Dental Instruments ; microbiology ; Equipment Contamination ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Sterilization ; methods

A total of 228 dental hygienists working in dental hospitals and clinics in the Busan and Gyeongnam areas were surveyed between August 1, 2015, and October 15, 2015. The factors influencing infection control awareness and implementation levels among the dental hygienists were investigated to prepare basic data with the goal of establishing guidelines for systemic infection control. Treatment preparation support for infection control positively correlated with equipment and facility support (r=0.4343, p<0.01), treatment skill and information support (r=0.231, p<0.01), infection control education support (r=0.266, p<0.01), infection control awareness (r=0.354, p<0.01), and infection control implementation levels (r=0.442, p<0.01). Equipment and facility support positively correlated with treatment skill and information support (r=0.418, p<0.01), infection control education support (r=0.422, p<0.01), infection control awareness (r=0.404, p<0.01), and infection control implementation levels (r=0.454, p<0.01). Infection control education support positively correlated with infection control awareness (r=0.348, p<0.01) and infection control implementation levels (r=0.405, p<0.01). Infection control awareness positively correlated with the infection control implementation level (r=0.879, p<0.01). The factors influencing the awareness of infection control include treatment preparation support, equipment and facility support, treatment skill and information support, and infection control education support. The influencing the infection control implementation level include treatment preparation support, equipment and facility support, infection control education support, and treatment skill and information support. To enhance the awareness of infection control and implementation levels amongdental hygienists, an infection control system must be established and implemented A rigorous system for evaluating dental clinics must also be established to ensure an ideal dental treatment environment and to protect patients' health and safety.
Busan ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Hygienists* ; Education ; Humans ; Infection Control*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of two different styles of mechanical implant torque wrenches before and after sterilization and repeated use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty new spring-style and friction-style mechanical implant torque wrenches from five different manufacturers were selected as subjects of study and assessed in terms of accuracy. Three manufacturers produced, spring-style (Dio, Neobiotech, Osstem) torque wrenches, and other three manufactures produced friction-style (Dentium, Osstem, Shinhung) torque wrenches. The procedure of target torque measurement was performed 10 times for each device and a digital torque gauge (MGT-12, Mark-10 Corp, USA) was used to record the measurements. All torque wrenches were used repeatedly for 20 times and then sterilized. This whole procedure was repeated 100 times and all torque wrenches were retested. The collected data was analyzed using a SPSS Statistics Analysis program to evaluate the accuracy of the torque wrenches and Mann-Whitney-U test was used for a comparative analysis. RESULTS: After sterilization and repeated use procedure, results did not show any significant difference between error values in the spring-style torque wrench group. However, the results demonstrated an increase in error values within the friction-style torque wrench group (P<.05). CONCLUSION: There was no difference between the accuracy of new spring-style torque wrenches before and after 100 cycles of sterilization and repeated use (P>.05). There was significant difference between the accuracy of new friction-style torque wrenches before and after 100 cycles of sterilization and repeated use (P<.05). Within the limitation of this study, spring-style torque wrenches were more accurate than friction-style torque wrenches in delivering target torque values.
Infection Control ; Sterilization ; Torque*

This study is proposed as an alternative method of sterilization in developing countries Purpose: To determine the efficacy of using a commercially available convection broiler in sterilization of ophthalmic surgical instruments Methods: Surgical ophthalmic instruments were contaminated artificially with Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aspergillus. The instruments were subjected to heat sterilization using the convection broiler at different temperature settings. After which, the instruments were cultured with appropriate media to determine contamination Results: 15 minutes heat sterilization at 260 degrees centigrade was enough to sterilize the contaminated ophthalmic surgical instruments Conclusion: Heat sterilization using a convection broiler provide a cheaper yet effective method of sterilization. (Author)
Human ; STERILIZATION, INFECTION CONTROL