Dental Health Care Workers at Cairo Dental Research Center: Do They Need Further Training on Infection Control Strategy to Prevent Viral Hepatitis Transmission

Background: Viral hepatitis is a major global public health problem in Egypt. The national organizations have issued a number of guidelines on proper infection control procedures in dental clinics. The study purpose was to determine the need for further educations and training on infection control guidelines by surveying the practices in infection control among dental health care workers at Cairo Dental Research Center.? Methods: A self-administered questionnaire concerning various aspects of infection control knowledge, attitude, and practices was distributed to twelve dental staff, twenty interns, fifteen dental nurses, and six cleaning staff. The total number was fifty-three participants who are working at Cairo Dental Research Center. Results: Responses came from fifty-three participants. All tested groups reported 100% routine wearing of gloves. Dental staff (83.3%) and interns (100%) reported a statistically higher frequency of routine mask use. Cleaning staff reported a statistically higher frequency of never washing hands before or after gloving, routine, watches and jewelry wearing (100%). Interns were less prone to percutaneous dental injuries. All dental staff received hepatitis B immunization in comparison with 85% of the interns, 66.7% of the dental nurses and the cleaning staff. Conclusion: The compliance with international precautions for infection control among dental professionals at Cairo Dental Research Center was a good, while it was a poor among nurses and cleaning staff. There is a necessity for raising awareness, providing periodical training in infection prevention, and further education of dental community especially nurses and cleaning staff to improve their compliance with infection control practices.