Awareness, knowledge, and attitude of dental students toward infection control in prosthodontic clinic of a dental school in India

Background

Infection control practices are crucial and important elements in clinical dentistry as there is an increase in the prevalence of infectious diseases among dental patients. This necessitates the application of recommended procedures for infection control in dental schools and clinics.

Objectives

The aim is to evaluate the awareness, knowledge, and attitude of the undergraduate dental students toward infection control measures in the prosthodontic clinic and to assess their satisfaction toward applying these measures during prosthodontic treatment.

Materials and Methods

A questionnaire-based study was conducted among 180 third, fourth and fifth year dental students (119 females and 61 males) in November 2015 in a private dental school of Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), India. It included 25 close-ended questions related to vaccination status and previous sharp injuries, awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward infection control in the prosthodontic clinic, previous education about infection control, and subjects' satisfaction with their knowledge and attitude. The questionnaire was distributed among 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th year students and informed consent were obtained before commencing the questionnaire.

Results

A total of 180 participants responded to the questionnaire. Their perception toward infection control practices in the prosthodontic clinic varied from 14.4% to 100%, where former were regularly disinfecting dental cast before sending it to the laboratory and later ones were regularly using gloves while attending the patient. Most of the subjects responded "good" or "fair" to the questions related to the evaluation of their knowledge and policy implementation of infection control in prosthodontic clinic (P < 0.0001). Around 47.8% were almost satisfied, and 28.9% were fairly satisfied with their knowledge and performance.

Conclusions

The study findings showed inadequate attitude and awareness of subjects toward infection control in prosthodontic practice. Their self-assessment and satisfaction reflect their performance toward infection control policy.

Bilateral breast abscess: a rare complication of enteric fever

Breast abscess is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus in pregnant or lactating females. Salmonella spp. is occasionally associated with abscess formation in various organs, but breast abscess is a very rare complication. In enteric fever dissemination to multiple organ systems following bacteraemia can lead to localized abscess. We report a case of bilateral breast abscess due to Salmonella Typhi in an unmarried 35-year-old female without any predisposing conditions. She presented with fever and painful swelling of both the breasts. S. typhi was isolated from both breasts. Such rare cause must be suspected in females without any evident predisposing factors for effective management.

Primary extragonadal retroperitoneal teratoma in an adult

Primary retroperitoneal teratoma is a rare entity in adults. It has a distinctive imaging appearance. We describe a case of a 22-year-old patient who was referred to our hospital with the complaint of abdominal distension. Radiological work-up disclosed a retroperitoneal teratoma. Laparotomy with tumour resection was performed. Pathological examination revealed a benign cystic teratoma. The patient is doing well at follow-up.

CT appearances of hydatid disease at various locations

Hydatid disease has characteristic imaging features on CT, which allow accurate preoperative diagnosis in most cases. However, when it occurs at unusual locations the diagnosis is often difficult, especially as the imaging appearance varies at different sites. In this article we have presented a pictorial review of the CT features of disease due to Echinococcus granulosus at various sites in the human body.

Giant congenital intrapericardial left atrial aneurysm diagnosed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography

A left atrial aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly. The etiology is usually congenital, but it can also occur as an acquired pathology secondary to mitral valve disease or a degenerative process. We report a case which, on routine PA chest radiography, presented as cardiomegaly with a bulge on the left cardiac contour. Further evaluation by contrast-enhanced computed tomography proved it to be caused by a large left atrial aneurysm.

Cognitive and emotional effects of renal transplantation

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of depression and cognitive changes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ERSD) and renal transplant recipients. There are few data available on the cognitive and emotional changes in patients undergoing renal transplantation in India.

AIM

To evaluate the changes in cognitive profile and depression in renal transplant recipients.

METHODS

Thirty consecutive patients undergoing renal transplantation were evaluated 1 month before and 3 months after successful renal transplant with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Weschler Adult Performance Intelligence Scale (WAPIS), Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological battery (LNNB) and Life satisfaction scale.

RESULTS

Our study revealed an 86.7% prevalence of depression in ESRD patients as compared to 56.7% in post renal transplant patients. Analysis of neurocognitive functions on LNNB did not reveal any significant impairment. Furthermore, analysis of the Life satisfaction scale revealed most of the patients scored high satisfaction levels despite the stress of their disease. Results on WAPIS brought out significant improvement in intelligence quotient (IQ) after renal transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Successful renal transplant is associated with improvement in depression, IQ and life satisfaction.

Dual kidney transplantation--a solution for less than ideal brain dead donors

For renal transplantation, an elderly cadaver donor is often rejected because of the relatively poor long-term graft survival. Considering that a number of potential recipients are waiting for a renal transplant, dual kidney transplantation would be a more appropriate approach in this situation. We report one such case with a successful outcome.