title: The detection of blood on dental surgery surfaces and equipment following dental hygiene treatment.
abstract: The Kastle-Meyer technique, a forensic test for blood, has been employed to assess the frequency and potential routes of contamination by blood between patients, staff and equipment during routine dental hygiene treatment. Fifty treatment sessions were studied and units were cleaned between patients according to the current hospital protocol. The surfaces most frequently contaminated after treatment were the 3-in-1 syringe buttons (40%), protective bibs (22%), tap handles (20%), light handles (18%) and operating cart handles (16%). Following cleaning of the units, the surfaces remaining contaminated were the 3-in-1 syringes (10%), tap handles (4%) and cart handles (2%). Modifications to the cross-infection control protocol have been made to eliminate these sources of contamination.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Dental Hospital and School.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winning
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003770:Dental Offices; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D010635:Phenolphthaleins
chemical_list: D010635:Phenolphthaleins