Infection Control Practices in Peshawar

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the infection control practices among dental trainees and house-officers. The use of method of sterilization, to figure out that whether the dental trainees are vaccinated against Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Hepatitis B and C, the color-coded waste segregation protocols implementation in dental hospitals. METHODOLOGY: A comparative study was conducted in Sardar Begum Dental Hospital (SBDH), Peshawar. The total number of the participants was 150 dental practitioners (75 training medical officers and 75 house officers) including both genders from different departments of SBDH. A questionnaire was designed to obtain the data on infection control practices, method using for sterilization, vaccination of the trainees and waste segregation protocols. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: Training medical officers (TMO) and house-officers (HO) are following the infection control practices in dental units (p<0.01). The autoclave methods are preferred for sterilization in dental hospital by both trainees (p-value<0.01). Furthermore, TMO’s were vaccinated as compared to the HO’s. Similarly, the TMO’s were more following the color-coded waste disposal protocols. CONCLUSION: Despite the information and practices of infection control there is a need for further developments in this area. The authorities should monitor the infection control practices and vaccinations of the trainees and arrange seminars or workshops for them. KEYWORDS: Equipment, Disinfectant, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Sterilization