Precautions against cross-infection during operations for maxillofacial trauma

Ocular contamination during lesional surgery—a hazard for the plastic surgeon

Protective glasses reduce the risk of transconjunctival virus transmission although this has never been characterised for local anaesthetic skin lesion surgery. This study investigated the use of, and need for, protective eyewear during Plastic Surgery and the surgeons' attitude to risk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study 1. A multi-center questionnaire recorded the attitudes of Plastic Surgeons' regarding google use and ocular viral transmission. Study 2. A single surgeon performed local anaesthetic skin lesion surgery over 8 months whilst wearing clean goggles. After each procedure the goggles were inspected for macroscopic splashes ans a record made of whether the operator had been aware of the splash occurrence.

RESULTS

Study 1. There were 36 respondents to the questionnaire (response rate of 84%). All grades recognised the risk of conjunctival contamination but most respondents did not wear goggles. Respondents changed their behavior, however, in 'high risk' cases. Study 2. 143 procedures resulted in 42 splashes. The surgeon was only aware of the splash in 6 cases.

CONCLUSION

Despite widespread recognition of the importance of eye protection, goggle use is still infrequent. Our study stresses the frequency of potential splashes to the eye and need for routine use of goggles to prevent viral transmission.

Eye safety in operative dentistry — A study in general dental practice

AIM

In this safety conscious age all general dental practitioners should be promoting the use of eye protection. The aim of this study was to highlight the uptake of eye protection by all clinical staff and patients within the general dental practice setting, with regard to adequate protection and its use at appropriate times.

METHOD

Questionnaires were sent to 200 GDPs, chosen at random, to accumulate information on the use of protection, the preferred methods of eye protection and any experience of ocular injury.

FINDINGS

Eighty-seven per cent of GDPs wore eye protection routinely, but their choice of protection was not always adequate and not worn for all procedures. Forty-eight per cent of GDPs had experience of ocular trauma or infection which occurred during a variety of procedures; 75% of these injuries resulted from not wearing eye protection. In contrast less than half of the DNs and Hygienists use protection routinely, particularly when cleaning contaminated instruments. However, hygienists did wear eye protection for the majority of their patient work (96%).

CONCLUSION

Eye protection use by all staff and patients is currently suboptimal to conform to published guidelines. Risks encountered within the dental environment do cause harm to the unprotected eye, which can be reduced or even eliminated by improving the uptake of suitable eye protection; several choices for eye protection are available. Each individual dentist is responsible for the uptake of eye protection for all persons in their surgery environment.

Failure rates in nonlatex surgical gloves

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of glove defects for nonlatex surgical gloves while surgeons performed routine surgery and to evaluate surgeons' satisfaction with nonlatex sterile gloves.

METHODS

Two brands of latex gloves and 6 brands of nonlatex gloves were tested. Gloves were collected at the end of each surgical procedure and tested for visual defects and barrier integrity using an automated calibrated water test machine consistent with FDA's recommended standards. A total of 6386 gloves used by 101 surgeons and 164 residents representing 15 surgical services were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

Higher after-use defect rates occurred in nonlatex surgical gloves than in latex gloves. Higher times of use were related to higher defect rates for some surgical specialties, and both surgeons and residents were less satisfied with nonlatex surgical gloves.

CONCLUSION

Intact latex and nonlatex surgical gloves provide adequate barrier protection. Nonlatex surgical gloves have higher failure rates and lower user satisfaction than latex gloves do. Both nonlatex and latex gloves should be changed after 2 to 3 hours of use because the barrier of either type of glove becomes compromised with extended use.

Utilisation of personal protective equipment in dental practice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate personal protective equipment such as gloves, mask and protective eye wear used in dental practice in Turkey.

DESIGN

An e-mail based self-report questionnaire was sent to dentists during 2002.

PARTICIPANTS

Dentists in Turkey.

RESULTS

574 dentists aged 22-69 years responded. Thirty-six questionnaires were not included in the results. The results of the present study indicate that a high proportion of younger dentist respondents are using personal protective equipment in accordance with guidelines. More dentists use personal protective equipment for high-risk patients. The percentage of dentists using protective eyewear was low considering the general recommendations.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicated that gloves and masks are used by a high proportion of the respondents. Further education may be appropriate in protective eyewear.