The immuno-suppressed patient--what are the implications?
Dentists, doctors, and other health professionals are increasingly involved in interacting with immunosuppressed and immuno-deficient patients. As the medico-legal and health-economic environments change, an increasing range of progressively more difficult problems is developing. Like other health professionals, dentists must accept their role as advocates for patients, despite the stresses that this will entail. The psychological and social stresses inherent in handling life-long management problems based upon immuno-suppression and immuno-deficiency exceeds the hazards to dentists and others which result from exposure to various viruses and bacteria. There are implications in terms of history taking, organisation of laboratory and organ-imaging investigations, for continuing education, and for intra-professional referral procedures.
Scott
P J
PJ
Academic Unit, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland.
D001290:Attitude; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008487:Medical History Taking; D012931:Social Environment