Epidemiological features of acute respiratory infections in dentists
https://doi.org/10.23946/2500-0764-2021-6-4-90-97
Abstract
Aim. To study the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in medical staff of dental clinics.
Materials and Methods. We performed a descriptive, retrospective epidemiological study of ARI incidence by means of conducting an anonymous survey of 1,081 dentistry practitioners (358 in specialised dental clinics and 723 employees of polyclinics) in Kemerovo (2020). ARI included COVID-19, community-acquired pneumonia, and other common respiratory viral infections. The questionnaire included 12 questions about ARI, age, gender, working experience, and position.
Results. The incidence of ARI in dentistry practitioners in specialised dental clinics was 2.6-fold higher as compared with those working in polyclinics [379.52 per 1,000 (95% CI = 327.10-434.11) and 146.19 per 1,000 (95% CI = 120.56-174.93), respectively, p = 0,00001], regardless of age. Prolonged and close contact with the patients along with an intensive use of aerosol-generating technologies were associated with a 2.3-fold times higher incidence of ARI in dental therapists in comparison with dental surgeons. Female dentists suffered from ARI 1.8-fold more frequently than males [410.91 per 1,000 (95% CI = 352,18-471,58) and 228.07 per 1,000 (95% CI = 127.40-358.36), p = 0,01] but most women worked as dental therapists that could confound such association. ARI incidence was not associated with age, work experience, and position (p = 0.22).
Conclusion. Dentistry practitioners working in specialised clinics more frequently experienced ARI than those working in polyclinics. Dental therapists were at higher risk of ARI in comparison with dental surgeons, potentially due to the active use of aerosol generating technologies and prolonged close contact with the patients during treatment. Other factors were not among the major determinants of ARI incidence in dentistry practitioners.
About the Authors
D. Yu. Ivanov
Kemerovo State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Danil Yu. Ivanov, Dr. MD, PhD Student, Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenereology
22a, Voroshilova Street, Kemerovo, 650056
O. M. Drozdova
Kemerovo State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga M. Drozdova, Prof. MD, DSc, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Dermatology and Venereology
22a, Voroshilova Street, Kemerovo, 650056
References
1. On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population in the Russian Federation in 2020: State Report. Moscow: Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; 2021. (In Russ). Available at: https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/bitrix/redirect.php?event1=file&event2=download&event3=gd-zpp_02.06-_s-podpisyu_.pdf&goto=/upload/iblock/4e3/gd-zpp_02.06-_s-podpisyu_.pdf. Accessed: 24 November 2021.
2. Denisova AR, Maksimov ML. Acute respiratory viral infections: etiology, diagnosis, modern view of treatment. RMZH. Meditsinskoe obozrenie = RMJ. Medical Review. 2018;1(II):99-103. (In Russ).
3. Vasquez Abanto JE, Vasquez Abanto AE. Acute respiratory infections in adults in the practice of primary care physician. Actual infectology. 2017;5(1):50-60. (In Russ). https://doi.org/10.22141/2312-413x.5.1.2017.98775
4. Brusina EB, Chezganova EA, Drozdova OM. Aerogenic mechanism of transmission of hospital pathogens. Fundamental and clinical medicine. 2020;5(4):97-103. (In Russ). https://doi.org/10.23946/2500-0764-2020-5-4-97-103
5. Zemouri C, de Soet H, Crielaard W, Laheij A. A scoping review on bio-aerosols in healthcare and the dental environment. PLoS One. 2017;12(5):e0178007. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178007
6. Gallagher JE, K C S, Johnson IG, Al-Yaseen W, Jones R, McGregor S, Robertson M, Harris R, Innes N, Wade WG. A systematic review of contamination (aerosol, splatter and droplet generation) associated with oral surgery and its relevance to COVID-19. BDJ Open. 2020;6:25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-020-00053-2
7. Patil S, Moafa IH, Bhandi S, Jafer MA, Khan SS, Khan S, Carroll WB, Awan KH. Dental care and personal protective measures for dentists and non-dental health care workers. Dis Mon. 2020;66(9):101056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101056
8. Ionescu AC, Cagetti MG, Ferracane JL, Garcia-Godoy F, Brambilla E. Topographic aspects of airborne contamination caused by the use of dental handpieces in the operative environment. J Am Dent Assoc. 2020;151(9):660-667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2020.06.002
9. Herfst S, Böhringer M, Karo B, Lawrence P, Lewis NS, Mina MJ, Russell CJ, Steel J, de Swart RL, Menge C. Drivers of airborne human-to-human pathogen transmission. Curr Opin Virol. 2017;22:22-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coviro.2016.11.006
10. Bracher L, Kulik EM, Waltimo T, Türp JC. Surface microbial contamination in a dental department. A 10-year retrospective analysis. Swiss Dent J. 2019;129(1):14-21.
11. Chekman IS, Syrovaya AO, Andreeva SV, Makarov VA. Aerozoli – dispersnye sistemy. Kiev - Kharkiv; 2013. (In Russ).
12. Jackson T, Deibert D, Wyatt G, Durand-Moreau Q, Adisesh A, Khunti K, Khunti S, Smith S, Chan XHS, Ross L, Roberts N, Toomey E, Greenhalgh T, Arora I, Black SM, Drake J, Syam N, Temple R, Straube S. Classification of aerosol-generating procedures: a rapid systematic review. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2020;7(1):e000730. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000730
13. Innes N, Johnson IG, Al-Yaseen W, Harris R, Jones R, Kc S, McGregor S, Robertson M, Wade WG, Gallagher JE. A systematic review of droplet and aerosol generation in dentistry. J Dent. 2021;105:103556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103556
Review
For citations:
Ivanov D.Yu., Drozdova O.M. Epidemiological features of acute respiratory infections in dentists. Fundamental and Clinical Medicine. 2021;6(4):90-97. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.23946/2500-0764-2021-6-4-90-97
Views:
413
Email this article 