Infection control in North American dental schools

Treatment of patients with transmissible infections is a particular concern in an institutional setting. This paper discusses the results of a questionnaire relating to infection control that was sent to all North American dental schools. The purpose of the survey was to aid in the development of a comprehensive protocol at Marquette University for treating patients with transmissible infections and, in particular, hepatitis B carriers. Currently, the dental community is reluctant to treat patients with a history of hepatitis and hepatitis B carriers. The protection offered by the recently available hepatitis B vaccine should contribute greatly to the reduction of transmission of hepatitis B. It is emphasized that the use of this vaccine in dental schools in no way obviates the need for meticulous infection control protocols.