title: Dental infection control and occupational safety in the Russian Federation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the recent past, the Russian Federation has seen a considerable increase in HIV caseload. A high level committee was formed to assess the status of dental infection control and safety (IC&S) in Russia. This article is one of the outcomes to assess the status of IC&S and is the research of a doctoral student (PhD) in public health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess needs in Dental Infection Control and Occupational Safety in the Moscow Metropolitan Region of the Russian Federation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey with variables assessing knowledge, attitude and practice of IC&S was administered to dentists practicing and or teaching in Moscow city and suburban areas on a convenience sample of dental practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of completed questionnaires were 303. Over 67% had up to three significant exposures to blood and potentially infectious materials (OPIM), but less than 30% got tested for HIV in the previous 3 months. Use of personal protective equipment was not based on anticipated exposure. Less than 10% had an understanding of Spaulding's classification with respect to sanitization, disinfection and sterilization. Only about 34% stated that there was a potential for infectious disease transmission through a percutaneous route and about 61% double gloved while treating patients with infectious diseases. Only about 61% disinfected impressions and most (83%) used alcohol for disinfection purposes. While 34% still used glass-bead sterilizers, about 13% did not sterilize handpieces between patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this study indicated a disparity in the practice of infection control and safety procedures requiring formulation of nationwide dental safety standards. Further, there is a need in implementation of a standardized dental safety curriculum for dental schools and continuing dental education requirements in dental safety for practicing dentists in the Russian Federation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthy Life-Styles for Sustainable Development, UNESCO, Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Marina A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Budnyak
authors.forename: Konstantin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Gurevich
authors.forename: Kate G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Fabrikant
authors.forename: Kierste
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Raghunath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puttaiah
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D019551:Dental Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000382:microbiology; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004497:Education, Dental; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005260:Female; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009031:Moscow; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D011482:Protective Devices; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019551:Dental Disinfectants; D000431:Ethanol