Disclosing Infectious Disease Status

Although the risk of transmission is low in dental settings, oral health professionals should be knowledgeable of any regulations requiring disclosure of an infectious disease.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After reading this course, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe infectious disease transmission from providers to patients in the dental setting, and measures that will minimize risk from bloodborne pathogens.
2. Explain the risk of transmission posed by various bloodborne pathogens, and factors that affect transmission between clinicians and patients.
3. Discuss recommendations for disclosing a clinician’s infectious disease status to an expert review panel, as well as patients.

This course was issued in March 2021 and expires March 2024. The authors have no commercial conflicts of interest to disclose. This 2 credit hour self-study activity is electronically mediated.