Biosafety in Dental Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

• DOI: 10.3389/froh.2022.871107
• Publication Date: 2022-05-10T06:11:26Z
• Authors: Lucyene Miguita; Roberta Rayra Mar...; Victor Emmanuel V...; Suellen da Rocha ...; Sara Ferreira dos...; Paula Luize Camar...; Diego Menezes; Rafael Marques de...; Daniel Costa Queiroz; Hugo José Alves; Raphaela Alvareng...; Aline Fernanda Cruz; Rennan Garcias Mo...; Filipe Romero Reb...; Larissa Marques B...; Diego Rodrigues d...; Maria Elisa de So...; Aline Araújo Sampaio; Francisca Daniele...; Leandro Napier de...; Tarcilia Aparecid...; Carolina Cavaliér...; Mauro Henrique No...; Renato Santana de...; Renan Pedra de Souza; Ricardo Santiago ...
• Keywords: Pandemic; Biosafety; Seroprevalence; Personal Protective Equipment; Dental Equipment

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had quite an impact on dental health care. Concerns about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through contaminant fluids and droplet formation during several procedures highly impacted care, drastically reducing number practices worldwide. To monitor contamination in clinics, a longitudinal study was carried out return practice at university. Methods Dental care professionals [(DHCPs); teachers, undergraduate students, assistants] patients were screened for RNA school clinic environment from 11 th January to 12 March 2021 (9 weeks). Serological testing performed DHCPs two-time points. Additionally, samples with low Ct values sequenced identify circulating variant possible clusters. Results We found staff (5.8%), (0.9%), sites (0.8%) positive SARS-CoV-2. Most cases asymptomatic mild symptoms, two presented prolonged infection. In first week after previous exposure COVID-19, 16.2% IgM or IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, 1/3 them undetected last weeks. zeta (P.2) could be detected. No cross-infection observed between participants. Conclusion Our suggests that can safely executed when adequate control measures biosafety protocols are applied. DHCP patient testing, telemonitoring, proper use personal protection equipment, sanitization surfaces essential avoid practice.