Infection control: a survey of UK special care dentists and dental care professionals.

Aim: To determine attitudes to and practice of infection control among practitioners involved in special care dentistry.

Methods: A questionnaire on the issues of decontamination and infection control was sent to all 680 members of the British Society for Disability and Oral Health.

Results: The response rate was 63.5%. Almost all respondents (95%) reported having a local infection-control policy; most (97%) had local protocols for the management of inoculation injuries; most (81%) gave new staff training in infection-control procedures and most (74%) provided updates for established staff. Most respondents 'usually' or 'always' provided eye protection for patients (95%) and themselves (93%). Virtually all routinely wore gloves, and nearly all (94%) 'always' changed gloves between patients. The majority 'usually' or 'always' disinfected or disposed of surface coverings between patients (98%), sterilised all non-disposable instruments that had been set out for the patient (99%), and disinfected laboratory work (96%).

Conclusions: There was high awareness of infection-control issues, and good reported compliance among these dental workers.