Regional differences in infection control conditions in a sample of primary health care services in Brazil.

Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães De Abreu,Antônio Thomaz Gonzaga Da Matta-Machado,Jacqueline Rose Starr,Vera Lúcia Silva Resende,Kyu Ha Lee

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00072416

Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães De Abreu, Antônio Thomaz Gonzaga Da Matta-Machado + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00072416

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Abstract

International guidelines have pointed out the importance of the physical environment of health care facilities in preventing and controlling infection. We aimed to describe the physical environment of dental care facilities in Brazil in 2014, focusing on characteristics designed to control infections. Exactly 16,202 dental offices in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) participated in this survey. Trained researchers extracted information about the infection control characteristics of health facilities by using a structured instrument. We used data from 12 dichotomous questions that evaluated the wall, floor, sink and tap conditions, and the presence and condition of sterilization equipment. We calculated a score by summing the number of characteristics handled appropriately for infection control, which could range from 0 to 12. Hierarchical cluster analyses were developed. None of the 12 criteria were met by all the oral health teams. Only 208 (1.3%) dental offices correctly performed all 12-infection control practices. Two clusters, with different frequencies of structure for infection control in dental offices, were identified. South and Southeast regions had the highest frequencies for Cluster 1, with better structure of infection control in dental offices. Dental care facilities of oral health teams were not typically meeting the infection control guidelines regarding clinic design and equipment. Adherence to the guidelines varied among the Brazilian geographic regions.

Highlights

International guidelines have pointed out the importance of the design, planning, construction, refurbishment, and maintenance of the physical environment of health care facilities for preventing and controlling infection [1,2]
Reports about the physical environment of dental care settings are scarce in the literature; most of the research on infection control in dentistry has focused on the knowledge and practices of dentists and dental assistants
A study carried out in a dental clinic from a Brazilian public university in Minas Gerais State have shown that the lack of physical barriers among dental offices has led to real possibility of cross-infection 16

Summary

Introduction

International guidelines have pointed out the importance of the design, planning, construction, refurbishment, and maintenance of the physical environment of health care facilities for preventing and controlling infection [1,2]. Studies, carried out in five towns from São Paulo State 12, and two towns, one from Espírito Santo State 13 and the other from Rio Grande do Sul State 14, Brazil, have shown that physical environment of dental care had problems regarding dental office sink, tap not draining properly, personal protective equipment, equipment for sterilization, among others. In Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, dental offices had frequent problems with personal protective equipment and equipment for sterilization 15. A study carried out in a dental clinic from a Brazilian public university in Minas Gerais State have shown that the lack of physical barriers among dental offices has led to real possibility of cross-infection 16

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