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We are living through a period of immense change following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China in December 2019. Even before the pandemic, the cost of managing healthcare-associated infections in the UK was considerable. The risk of acquiring any infection from the dental environment must be reduced to a minimum. As we have observed in recent years, new infectious agents emerge frequently, and the dental profession must be ready to respond appropriately and quickly. Orthodontic practice presents unique challenges in relation to infection control procedures. The impact of healthcare waste on the environment must also be considered.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: This paper describes the range of infectious agents posing a risk to dental team members and patients. The aim is to place the recent coronavirus pandemic in the context of other recent emerging infections. Some of the latest research regarding infection control procedures is reviewed. Current best practice is described.
Article
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on 11th March 2020 by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2 and presents with a spectrum of clinical severity ranging from sub-clinical infection to life threatening disease.1 The symptoms can be mild and non-specific or can be highly specific such as anosmia.2 The human cost of the pandemic has been immense, as well as the far-reaching adverse economic consequences.
In 2011, the prevalence of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) in hospitals in England was 6.4%.3 In October 2020, 12.5% of coronavirus infections were due to transmission in hospital.4 Prior to the pandemic, it was estimated that 300,000 patients per year in England developed a healthcare-associated infection as a result of NHS care and the cost of HCAIs to the NHS was thought to be approximately £1 billion/year.5 In November 2020, the Health Foundation reported that COVID-19 alone is likely to result in extra health service costs of around £40 billion/year for the next 2 years.6
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