Reconnecting Practicing Hygienists with the Nation's Leading Educators and Researchers.

Oral Health Professionals and Infectious Disease Status

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) characterizes an exposure-prone procedure as any that poses a risk of percutaneous injury to providers due to limited visibility or confinement within an anatomical site. Not counting the recent appearance of COVID-19, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pose the greatest potential for disease transmission in healthcare settings. Disclosure of a provider’s infectious disease status to patients is highly controversial. This article reviews infectious disease transmission in dentistry, and explains CDC recommendations and state regulations regarding infectious disease disclosure by HBV-positive or HIV-positive providers.

0%

HBV can present as an acute infection, lasting for a few weeks, or can become a chronic, lifelong illness.

International certificate of vaccination - Hepatitis B Zerbor / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

In order to prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens (BBPs), clinicians are advised to follow CDC standard precautions, which include vaccination, infection control protocols, use of safety device (eg, puncture-resistant sharps containers and needle-retracting devices), and implementing safe work practices.

Sharps Container FogStock/FogStock Collection / FogStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

HCV is not transmitted through contact with infected blood, negating needle sharing as a possible risk factor.

Hepatitis C virus infection medical concept Dr_Microbe / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

The risk of HIV transmission is approximately one in how many following a single percutaneous exposure?

Pills on Hiv aids paper - Gam1983 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

Historically, there have been multiple incidents of disease transmission from dental providers to patients in the United States.

Beautiful dentist wearing surgical mask and face shield. The letter on her gown is her name written in Thai alphabets. Lunatic_67 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

In which time period did the only documented incidences of provider-to-patient transmission of HIV in dental settings?

AIDS checkup, researcher preparing to examine blood sample under microscope Motortion / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

The CDC recommends practice restrictions for providers who have HCV or who do not perform exposure-prone procedures.

A team of doctors works with a futuristic hologram of cdc technology. The concept of disease control and prevention centers. Kachura Oleg / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

At a minimum, HBV-positive or HIV-positive providers have an ethical and professional obligation to disclose their disease status to an expert review panel and, for providers in Texas, obtain written consent from patients.

hiv virus test,test tubes Andy / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Correct! Wrong!

Oral Health Professionals and Infectious Disease Status
Not bad, but there’s room to grow when it comes to understanding oral health professionals and infectious disease status. Consider reading more about this important facet of dental hygiene care. Good luck!
Well done! Continue to study oral health professionals and infectious disease status. You’ve got this!
Congrats! You understand the importance of oral health professionals and infectious disease status. Get out there and put your know-how to good use!

Share your Results:

This information is from the article Disclosing Infectious Disease Status by Melanie E. Patterson, RDH, BSDH; Abbigale D. White, RDH, BS, BSDH; Kimberlynn N. Patzold, RDH, BSDH; Tracy King, RDH, MS; Faizan Kabani, PhD, MBA, MHA, RDH, FAADH; and Leigh Ann Wyatt, RDH, MA, MS. To read the article, click here.
Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER MONDAY
CE PROMOTION

Coupon has expired Stay top of your profession with our evidence-based peer-reviewed continuing education courses written by world-class educators and researchers!
Get Black Friday CE Savings!