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Stomatologija 2011; 13 (1): 2-7 191 KB

Percutaneous injuries and hepatitis B vaccination among Lithuanian dentists

Jurate Rimkuviene, Alina Puriene, Vytaute Peciuliene, Linas Zaleckas

Summary

The transmission of blood-borne viruses in dental offices is a potential hazard to patients and dental staff.

The aim of the study was to clarify the current situation regarding hepatitis B virus vaccination, percutaneous injuries among members of the Lithuanian dental community.

Material and Methods. A confidential, self administered questionnaire was send to all 2235 Lithuanian general dental practitioners. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, practice time, working place and environment, hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, history of hepatitis B infection, and needlestick and sharp instruments injury (NSII).

Results. Overall response rate was 64.7% (87.4% of them were women; 64.1% were working in five major cities of Lithuania and 60.8% in private clinics. Mean age of repondents was 44.8 (range 23 – 74 years). As much as 95.3% dentists expressed concern about the risk of cross-infection from patients to themselves and their dental assistants. Respondents reported: complete immunization against HBV (35.9%); previous hepatitis infection (4.3%); needlestick and sharp instruments injury (78.5%); collecting medical history about HBV from patients (30.9%).

Conclusions. Despite a high risk of needlestick and sharp instruments injury in the dental practice as well as high risk of HBV infection and the existence of strong rules and recommendations for routine HBV vaccination, vaccine coverage among Lithuanian dentists cannot be assumed to be adequate. Further continuing education programs and stronger control measures might be suggested.

Key words: questionnaire, general dental practitioner, hepatitis B, needlestick and sharp instruments injury.

Received: 24 03 2010

Accepted for publishing: 30 03 2011

*Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Jurate Rimkuviene* – D.D.S., assist. professor

Alina Puriene* – D.D.S., PhD, professor (HP)

Vytaute Peciuliene* – D.D.S., PhD, professor

Linas Zaleckas* – D.M.S., PhD, assoc. professor

Address correspondence to: Assist. prof. Jūratė Rimkuvienė, Žalgirio str. 115, 08217 Vilnius, Lithuania.

E-mail address: jurate.rimkuviene@mf.vu.lt



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

March, 2011, Vol. 13, No. 1 CONTENTS SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Percutaneous injuries and hepatitis B vaccination among Lithuanian dentists Jurate Rimkuviene, Alina Puriene, Vytaute Peciuliene, Linas Zaleckas 2-7 Assessment of the Posteroanterior Cephalograms of the Parents of Children with Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate in Latvia Ieva Maulina, Ilze Akota 8-14 Accuracy of the second pour casts using dual-arch trays Josué Ricardo Broilo, Paula Cristine Ghiggi, Gilberto Antonio Borges, Luiz Henrique Burnett Jr, Ana Maria Spohr 15-18 The influence of bone mineral density and body mass index on resorption of edentulous jaws Baiba Ozola, Anda Slaidina, Lija Laurina, Una Soboleva, Aivars Lejnieks 19-24 Transantral distraction devices in correction of severe maxillary deformity in cleft patients Shokhruh Shokirov, Konrad Wangerin 25-30 © 2011 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2011; 13 (1): 2-7 191 KB Percutaneous injuries and hepatitis B vaccination among Lithuanian dentists Jurate Rimkuviene, Alina Puriene, Vytaute Peciuliene, Linas Zaleckas Summary The transmission of blood-borne viruses in dental offices is a potential hazard to patients and dental staff. The aim of the study was to clarify the current situation regarding hepatitis B virus vaccination, percutaneous injuries among members of the Lithuanian dental community. Material and Methods. A confidential, self administered questionnaire was send to all 2235 Lithuanian general dental practitioners. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, practice time, working place and environment, hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, history of hepatitis B infection, and needlestick and sharp instruments injury (NSII). Results. Overall response rate was 64.7% (87.4% of them were women; 64.1% were working in five major cities of Lithuania and 60.8% in private clinics. Mean age of repondents was 44.8 (range 23 – 74 years). As much as 95.3% dentists expressed concern about the risk of cross-infection from patients to themselves and their dental assistants. Respondents reported: complete immunization against HBV (35.9%); previous hepatitis infection (4.3%); needlestick and sharp instruments injury (78.5%); collecting medical history about HBV from patients (30.9%). Conclusions. Despite a high risk of needlestick and sharp instruments injury in the dental practice as well as high risk of HBV infection and the existence of strong rules and recommendations for routine HBV vaccination, vaccine coverage among Lithuanian dentists cannot be assumed to be adequate. Further continuing education programs and stronger control measures might be suggested. Key words: questionnaire, general dental practitioner, hepatitis B, needlestick and sharp instruments injury. Received: 24 03 2010 Accepted for publishing: 30 03 2011 Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania Jurate Rimkuviene – D.D.S., assist. professor Alina Puriene* – D.D.S., PhD, professor (HP) Vytaute Peciuliene* – D.D.S., PhD, professor Linas Zaleckas* – D.M.S., PhD, assoc. professor Address correspondence to: Assist. prof. Jūratė Rimkuvienė, Žalgirio str. 115, 08217 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail address: jurate.rimkuviene@mf.vu.lt