Surveillance of Infection Control in Dental Settings During Covid-19 Pandemic

Year 2023, , 662 - 668, 29.10.2023

Mehmed Taha Alpaydın , Damla Torul , Mehmet Melih Ömezli

https://doi.org/10.19127/mbsjohs.1302337

Abstract

Objective: Fluorescence marking is a cost-effective method to evaluate the completeness of cleaning in clinical surfaces. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential sources of infection by surveillance of frequently contacted surfaces in the clinic and patient waiting areas in dental practice by fluorescent marker.
Materials and methods: The surfaces that are frequently contacted by patients, clinicians, and the staff in the clinic, local intervention room, and patient waiting room were determined. Fluorescent marker dye was applied onto frequently contacted surfaces. Following cleaning after the patient's discharge, the dye-applied surfaces were examined with a fluorescent lamp.
Results: The surfaces in the patient waiting area were observed to have the highest scores in terms of the frequency of the touches. According to the fluorescent marker method, 50 % of the frequently contacted surfaces were scored as totally clean, 17 % were partially clean, and 33 % were not clean.
Conclusion: This study suggests that the fluorescent marker method is an easy and practical method that can be used for the surveillance of surface cleaning in dental settings. More careful and strict hygiene regimens are required not to overlook any potential source of infection, such as the patient waiting area, and eliminate the potential routes of the spread of infection.

Keywords

Decontamination, Cross-Infection, Equipment Contamination

References

• Chen Y, Guo Y, Pan Y, Zhao ZJ. Structure analysis of the receptor binding of 2019-nCoV. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020;17;525(1):135-40.
• Ceron JJ, Lamy E, Martinez-Subiela S, Lopez-Jornet P, Capela e Silva F, Eckersall PD, et al. Use of Saliva for Diagnosis and Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2: A General Perspective. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2020;9(5):1491.
• Lin B, Mei Z, Hongbin G, Xinhong W, Kaibin W, Mingxiao L, et al. Significant expression of FURIN and ACE2 on oral epithelial cells may facilitate the efficiency of 2019-nCov entry. BioRxiv. 2020.
• Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci 2020;12(1):9.
• Ge ZY, Yang LM, Xia JJ, Fu XH, Zhang YZ. Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2020;21(5):361-8.
• To KK, Tsang OT, Yip CC, Chan KH, Wu TC, Chan JM, et al. Consistent Detection of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Saliva. Clin Infect Dis 2020;71(15):841-3.
• van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, Holbrook MG, Gamble A, Williamson BN, et al. Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med 2020;382(16):1564-7.
• Kampf G, Todt D, Pfaender S, Steinmann E. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. J Hosp Infect 2020;104(3):246-51.
• Otter JA, Yezli S, Salkeld JA, French GL. Evidence that contaminated surfaces contribute to the transmission of hospital pathogens and an overview of strategies to address contaminated surfaces in hospital settings. Am J Infect Control 2013;41(5):6-11.
• Volgenant CMC, Persoon IF, de Ruijter RAG, de Soet JJH. Infection control in dental health care during and after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Oral Dis 2021; 27(3): 674–83
• Hung IC, Chang HY, Cheng A, Chen AC, Ting L, Chen MW, et al. Application of a fluorescent marker with quantitative bioburden methods to assess cleanliness. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2018;39(11):1296-300.
• Fattorini M, Ceriale E, Nante N, Lenzi D, Manzi P, Basagni C, et al. Use of a fluorescent marker for assessing hospital bathroom cleanliness. American Journal of Infection Control 2016;44(9):1066-8.
• Ye G, Lin H, Chen S, Wang S, Zeng Z, Wang W, et al. Environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare premises. J Infect 2020;81(2):1-5.
• Wang J, Feng H, Zhang S, Ni Z, Ni L, Chen Y, et al. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection of hospital isolation wards hygiene monitoring during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak in a Chinese hospital. Int J Infect Dis 2020;94:103-6.
• Fiorillo L, Cervino G, Matarese M, D'Amico C, Surace G, Paduano V, et al. COVID-19 Surface Persistence: A Recent Data Summary and Its Importance for Medical and Dental Settings. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(9):3132.
• Carling P. Methods for assessing the adequacy of practice and improving room disinfection. Am J Infect Control 2013;41(5):20-5.
• Havill NL. Best practices in disinfection of noncritical surfaces in the health care setting: creating a bundle for success. Am J Infect Control 2013;41(5):26-30.
• Rock C, Xie A, Andonian J, Hsu YJ, Osei P, Keller SC, et al. Evaluation of environmental cleaning of patient rooms: Impact of different fluorescent gel markers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019;40(1):100-2.