Infection Control Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Students of Public Dental Schools in Egypt

Abstract

In developing countries such as Egypt, the risk of blood-borne diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus is high for healthcare workers. To evaluate infection control knowledge, attitudes and practices, as well as the associated risk of percutaneous infection among dental students, a cross-sectional study was conducted in four Egyptian public dental schools in 2016. A total of 1776 students received an anonymous questionnaire on infection control knowledge, attitudes, and practices and the occurrence of needle and sharps injuries; 1,067 (60.1%) completed the questionnaire. Third- (pre-clinical), fourth- (junior-clinical), and fifth-year (senior-clinical) students comprised 44.2%, 15.6%, and 40.2%, respectively. Although the majority of the students reported good attitudes and practices for infection control, knowledge scores were generally low. Female students scored higher on self-protection and sterilization practices than did male students, and the fourth-year students showed significantly higher scores for infection control practice than did the fifth-year students. In multivariate analysis, higher scores for all infection control practices were associated with higher scores for attitudes towards infection control and fewer (1–3) needle injury experiences. Although an alarming proportion had experienced needle or sharps injuries during clinical training, around 30% of the students had not received a complete hepatitis B vaccination. Future infection control education should introduce refresher training before graduation that focuses on injury prevention and post-exposure protocols. Additionally, introducing safer products and clinical procedures is highly recommended to minimize the risk of injuries during clinical practice for dental students in Egypt.

Acidentes Ocupacionais Entre Acadêmicos De Odontologia E a Biossegurança Como Método De Prevenção: Uma Revisão De Literatura

“…Nesse contexto, El-saaidi et al (2021) evidenciaram que embora a maioria dos alunos tenha relatado boas atitudes e práticas para o controle de infecções, as pontuações de conhecimento foram geralmente baixas. Além disso, cerca de 60% e 38% sofreram ferimentos com agulhas e materiais cortantes nos últimos 6 meses, respectivamente, durante o treinamento clínico.…”

Attitude of General Dental Practitioners and Specialists Toward Infection Control Measures in Prosthodontics Clinics in Tripoli, Libya

“…Healthcare providers are at three to six times greater risk of blood-borne infections than other populations [8]. Proper Hepatitis B vaccination is the best procedure to prevent contagious transmission during dental treatments [9].…”

An Overview Needle Sticks or Sharps Related Injuries and Blood-Borne Pathogens

“…Cluster-randomized controlled studies are needed to compare the various types of safety engineered devices for their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Gopar-Nieto et al (2015) in Mexico repo-rted that sharps injuries were one of the most frequent health-care related accidents, which estimated globally those 35 million workers were at risk; in Mexico without available data for this injury types. They were associated with lack of training, instrument and procedure risk, fatigue and stress.…”

“…They recommended that focusing on NSI in the nursing curriculum and providing more protection and post-exposure intervention during clinical practice. El-Saaidi et al (2021) in Egypt reported that in developing countries, risk of bloodborne diseases such as human immuno-deficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, & hepatitis C virus was high for healthcare workers. To evaluate infection control knowledge, attitudes and practices, as well as the associated risk of percutaneous infection among dental students, a cross-sectional study was conducted in four Egyptian public dental schools in 2016.…”