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Biosafety in Dental Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

Authors :
Lucyene Miguita
Roberta Rayra Martins-Chaves
Victor Emmanuel Viana Geddes
Suellen da Rocha Mendes
Sara Ferreira dos Santos Costa
Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca
Diego Menezes
Rafael Marques de Souza
Daniel Costa Queiroz
Hugo José Alves
Raphaela Alvarenga Braga de Freitas
Aline Fernanda Cruz
Rennan Garcias Moreira
Filipe Romero Rebello Moreira
Larissa Marques Bemquerer
Diego Rodrigues de Aguilar
Maria Elisa de Souza e Silva
Aline Araújo Sampaio
Francisca Daniele Moreira Jardilino
Leandro Napier de Souza
Tarcilia Aparecida da Silva
Carolina Cavaliéri Gomes
Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães de Abreu
Renato Santana de Aguiar
Renan Pedra de Souza
Ricardo Santiago Gomez
Source :
Frontiers in Oral Health, Vol 3 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.

Abstract

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had quite an impact on dental health care. Concerns about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through contaminant fluids and droplet formation during several dental procedures highly impacted dental health care, drastically reducing the number of dental practices worldwide. To monitor SARS-CoV-2 contamination in dental clinics, a longitudinal study was carried out during the return of dental practice at university.MethodsDental health care professionals [(DHCPs); teachers, undergraduate dental students, and dental assistants] and patients were screened for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a dental school clinic environment from 11th January to 12th March 2021 (9 weeks). Serological testing was performed on DHCPs in two-time points. Additionally, samples with low Ct values were sequenced to identify the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant and possible transmission clusters.ResultsWe found a low number of dental staff (5.8%), patients (0.9%), and environment sites (0.8%) positive for SARS-CoV-2. Most positive cases had asymptomatic to mild symptoms, and two asymptomatic DHCPs presented prolonged infection. In the first week after previous exposure to COVID-19, 16.2% of DHCPs had IgM or IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and 1/3 of them had undetected antibodies in the last weeks. The variant zeta (P.2) could be detected. No cross-infection was observed between participants.ConclusionOur study suggests that dental practice can be safely executed when adequate control measures and biosafety protocols are applied. DHCP and patient testing, patient telemonitoring, proper use of personal protection equipment, and sanitization of surfaces are essential to avoid SARS-CoV-2 cross-infection in dental practice.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26734842
Volume :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Oral Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.07efa099041f46fea3420bf0011cf3e5
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2022.871107