title: Prion diseases: risks, characteristics, and infection control considerations in dentistry.
abstract: Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases that are rapidly progressive and fatal, with no definite cure. There are no reported cases of prion disease transmission arising from dental procedures. Nevertheless, there is a theoretical but real risk of transmission of prion disease from dental instruments. A review was made of studies up to 2008 to provide an update of the characteristics, risk of transmission, and the infection-control implications of prions in the field of dentistry. As the prions are resistant to conventional sterilization methods, highly-specific, cross-infection control measures are required when managing patients infected with these.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dayanand Anglo Vedic (centenary) Dental Collage, Yamunanagar, Haryana, India Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dayanand Anglo Vedic (centenary) Dental Collage, Yamunanagar, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Zarina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Rishi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagrath
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003762:Dental Instruments; D004203:Disinfection; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D011328:Prions / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011328:Prions
keywords: cross-infection; dental instrument; occupational exposure; prion disease; sterilization