title: Simplified cross-infection control: a study of cost, time and patient flow in Antigua.
abstract: This study was designed to assess the factors, such as cost of imported dental materials, time spent on cross-infection control procedures and the limited number of dental instruments, that determine the suitability of cross-infection control methods in a government dental clinic in a developing country. During the 6-month study period, 510 adult patients received extraction treatment, the mean treatment time for each patient being 8-9 min. In each session, it was found that every 1-1 1/2 hours, instruments had to be autoclaved again for the treatment of further patients, but patient-flow was maintained. Between patients, a hand washing time of 20-25 s with chlorhexidine was recorded. Every 1 1/2-2 hours a new pair of gloves had to be used. Work surfaces were disinfected with either 1 per cent chlorine or 2 per cent glutaraldehyde. Extraction of 22 teeth per session was completed within the available working time of 3-3 1/2 hours at a cost for materials of US 50 cents per patient. These cross-infection control procedures were deemed suitable for use in the Government Dental Clinic.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vignarajah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003770:Dental Offices; D004203:Disinfection; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D013242:Sterilization; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction