title: Methods of Sterilization and Monitoring of Sterilization AcrossSelected Dental Practices in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess methods of sterilization in dental practices in Karachi and secondly to investigate methods of monitoring sterilization in dental practices in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental colleges, hospitals and private clinics of Karachi, Pakistan, from January to March 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 251 questionnaires were obtained. Descriptive statistics were computed and differences between groups were assessed through chi-square test using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. P-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Autoclave, used by 155 (61.8%) dentists was the most common method of sterilization followed by more than one method, 65 (25.9%); dry heat, 24 (9.6%); and cold sterilization, 7 (2.8%). Majority of dentists, 126 (50.1%), never monitored sterilization and those who did monitored mostly monthly. Statistically significant difference was found amongst the three groups of dentists monitoring sterilization (p=0.09) and methods of sterilization (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistically significant difference was found in infection control practices of specialists, postgraduate trainees and general dentists regarding method of monitoring sterilization with majority of dentists never monitoring sterilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Ziauddin College of Dentistry/Ziauddin University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019551:Dental Disinfectants; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003770:Dental Offices; D003815:Dentists; D004203:Disinfection; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010154:Pakistan; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011481:Protective Clothing; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019551:Dental Disinfectants