IADR Abstract Archives
Awareness of Tunisian Dentists About Occupational Exposure to Blood
Objectives: To assess the practices of dentists in case of occupational exposure to blood.
Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted on Tunisian dentists. A self-administrated online questionnaire was used and data were collected via Google Forms. The questionnaire assessed the conditions of the accidental blood exposure, the post-exposure prophylaxis, their immediate practices, the declaration of the accident and the therapy that they had received.
Results: Among 230 participants, only 11 persons (4.8%) reported that they had experienced an occupational exposure to blood while providing dental care. The accident was needle stick injury for 10 persons (91%) and only one person (9%) had a sharp instrument injury. In 8 cases, the serologic profiles of the patient source were not known.
The study showed that 11 participants had experienced an occupational exposure, 7 ones (63.63%) immediately washed the injury with water, soap and then used an antiseptic.
Regarding the treatment, 6 of them (54.54%) received a vaccination and only 2 (18.18%) were treated by immunoglobulins
Among the 219 participants who hadn’t experienced an occupational exposure, 80% of them thought that the immediate prophylactic act is washing with water, soap and then using an antiseptic.
Regarding the treatment, 10.95% chose vaccination, 5.47% chose immunoglobulins (injection of one dose of HBIg) and only 1.36% choose both vaccination and immunoglobulins. Over than 80% of them did not answer.
Conclusions: This study presented some knowledge gaps regarding the correct behaviour after an occupational risk. HBV testing and continued education about standard precautions and awareness of HIV, HCV and HBV are necessary to prevent the contamination and optimize the management of these accidents.
Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted on Tunisian dentists. A self-administrated online questionnaire was used and data were collected via Google Forms. The questionnaire assessed the conditions of the accidental blood exposure, the post-exposure prophylaxis, their immediate practices, the declaration of the accident and the therapy that they had received.
Results: Among 230 participants, only 11 persons (4.8%) reported that they had experienced an occupational exposure to blood while providing dental care. The accident was needle stick injury for 10 persons (91%) and only one person (9%) had a sharp instrument injury. In 8 cases, the serologic profiles of the patient source were not known.
The study showed that 11 participants had experienced an occupational exposure, 7 ones (63.63%) immediately washed the injury with water, soap and then used an antiseptic.
Regarding the treatment, 6 of them (54.54%) received a vaccination and only 2 (18.18%) were treated by immunoglobulins
Among the 219 participants who hadn’t experienced an occupational exposure, 80% of them thought that the immediate prophylactic act is washing with water, soap and then using an antiseptic.
Regarding the treatment, 10.95% chose vaccination, 5.47% chose immunoglobulins (injection of one dose of HBIg) and only 1.36% choose both vaccination and immunoglobulins. Over than 80% of them did not answer.
Conclusions: This study presented some knowledge gaps regarding the correct behaviour after an occupational risk. HBV testing and continued education about standard precautions and awareness of HIV, HCV and HBV are necessary to prevent the contamination and optimize the management of these accidents.