Prevention of cross-infection in dental surgeries in East Africa and a review of the literature

ABSTRACT

In view of the increase in recent years increase in the number of children and adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) world over, there is an urgent need to respond to this pandemic by strengthening prevention and control measures against HIV at national and global levels. Equally important is the prevention and control of viral hepatitis and tuberculosis in dental surgeries. This paper looks at some of the studies that have been carried out in East Africa to assess the preventive measures against cross-infection taken by dental surgeons. Based on the results of these studies, it is concluded that preventive measures against cross-infection in dental surgeries in the region are inadequate. It is recommended that this problem be addressed urgently and in a realistic manner, given the prevailing financial circumstances of each country in the region.(AU)