Mehmed Taha ALPAYDIN, Damla TORUL, Mehmet Melih ÖMEZLİ

Surveillance of Infection Control in Dental Settings During Covid-19 Pandemic

Objective: Fluorescence marking is a cost-effective method to evaluate the completeness of cleaning in clinical surfaces. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential sources of infection by surveillance of frequently contacted surfaces in the clinic and patient waiting areas in dental practice by fluorescent marker. Materials and methods: The surfaces that are frequently contacted by patients, clinicians, and the staff in the clinic, local intervention room, and patient waiting room were determined. Fluorescent marker dye was applied onto frequently contacted surfaces. Following cleaning after the patient's discharge, the dye-applied surfaces were examined with a fluorescent lamp. Results: The surfaces in the patient waiting area were observed to have the highest scores in terms of the frequency of the touches. According to the fluorescent marker method, 50 % of the frequently contacted surfaces were scored as totally clean, 17 % were partially clean, and 33 % were not clean. Conclusion: This study suggests that the fluorescent marker method is an easy and practical method that can be used for the surveillance of surface cleaning in dental settings. More careful and strict hygiene regimens are required not to overlook any potential source of infection, such as the patient waiting area, and eliminate the potential routes of the spread of infection.

Keywords:

Decontamination, Cross-Infection, Equipment Contamination,

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