Journal article
Assessment of dental health care personnel protocol deviations and self-contamination during personal protective equipment donning and doffing
The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), Vol.153(11), pp.1070-1077.e1
11/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2022.08.004
PMCID: PMC9511115
PMID: 36175202
Abstract
Dental health care personnel (DHCP) may be at increased risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as other clinically important pathogens. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces occupational exposure to pathogens. The authors performed an assessment of PPE donning and doffing practices among DHCP, using a fluorescent marker as a surrogate for pathogen transmission.
Participants donned PPE (that is, disposable gown, gloves, face mask, and eye protection) and the fluorescent marker was applied to their palms and abdomen. DHCP then doffed PPE according to their usual practices. The donning and doffing processes were video recorded, areas of fluorescence were noted, and protocol deviations were assessed. Statistical analyses included frequency, type, and descriptions of protocol deviations and factors associated with fluorescence.
Seventy DHCP were enrolled. The donning and doffing steps with the highest frequency of protocol deviations were hand hygiene (66% of donning and 78% of doffing observations involved a deviation) and disposable gown use (63% of donning and 60% of doffing observations involved a deviation). Fluorescence was detected on 69% of DHCP after doffing, most frequently on hands. An increasing number of protocol deviations was significantly associated with increased risk of fluorescence. DHCP with a gown doffing deviation, excluding doffing out of order, were more likely to have fluorescence detected.
DHCP self-contamination was common with both donning and doffing PPE.
Proper use of PPE is an important component of occupational health.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Assessment of dental health care personnel protocol deviations and self-contamination during personal protective equipment donning and doffing
- Creators
- Kimberly A. ReskeDaniel ParkTracey Habrock BachHenry B. StewartLucy C. VogtOlivia G. ArterDaniel StoeckelHeidi M. SteinkampStephen Y. LiangMichael J. DurkinJennie H. Kwon
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), Vol.153(11), pp.1070-1077.e1
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.adaj.2022.08.004
- PMID
- 36175202
- PMCID
- PMC9511115
- NLM abbreviation
- J Am Dent Assoc
- ISSN
- 0002-8177
- eISSN
- 1943-4723
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Grant note
- Comprehensive Cancer Center National Cancer Institute (https://doi.org/10.13039/100000054) Cancer Center School of Medicine (https://doi.org/10.13039/100008235) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (https://doi.org/10.13039/100000072) Foundation National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (https://doi.org/10.13039/100006108) Washington National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (https://doi.org/10.13039/100000060) Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (https://doi.org/10.13039/100007930)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2022
- Academic Unit
- Surgery; Pediatric Dentistry
- Record Identifier
- 9984367636802771
Metrics
26 Record Views