Comparison of sterilization, aseptic and other protective measures employed by dental surgeons in the government and private sector.

Abstract

This study was done to assess the quality of care provided by the dental surgeons to their patients with regard to infection control, and measures taken by them to protect themselves from cross infection, and to compare the state sector with the private sector with regard to same. Overall, the care provided to patients, in respect of infection control was poor in both the sectors, and the measures taken by dental surgeons to protect themselves from cross infection was poorer. The sterility of infection needles and syringes was high in both sectors, use of disposable instruments was high in the private sector, compared to the state sector. In both sectors, sterility of all other hand instruments was high at the beginning of a session, but showed about 50 per cent reduction when the instruments were reprocessed within the same session. Performance of dental surgeons in the government sector was noticeably higher than the performance of the dental surgeons in the private sector. There was severe under utilization of facilities in the government sector. Out of the five government institutions where autoclaving facilities were available, only in one institution the dental surgeons made full use of it