Dental Products Report - February 2009 - (Page 84)

CLINICAL 360° INFECTION CONTROL THE TAKE-AWAYS All healthcare personnel are at some risk of acquiring vaccine-preventable diseases. The incidence of inﬂuenza or hepatitis B in properly vaccinated dental healthcare workers can be reduced by more than 90%. The importance of immunization A look at two contagious diseases, and how proper inoculations can protect dental healthcare workers. by J O H N A. MOLINARI, PHD THE TEAM Bringing together a variety of voices for the best advice and big ideas. TEAM MEMBERS Chris Miller, PhD (Lead) John Molinari, PhD Dr. Linda Basquill Therese Long THE SET-UP “The ideal way to conquer an infectious disease is to prevent it from occurring. When this fails, we can at least treat many bacterial, fungal and protozoan diseases with antibiotics, but these antimicrobial agents are ineffective against viruses. Thus, viral diseases must be managed by preventing exposure or through vaccination, when available. This article demonstrates the importance of vaccinations.”—CHRIS MILLER, PHD, TEAM LEAD ABOUT THE AUTHOR As Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in Detroit, Mich., John A. Molinari, PhD, has published more than 300 scientiﬁc articles, text chapters and abstracts in the areas of microbiology and immunology. He lectures nationally and internationally on infectious diseases and infection control. The products that appear in conjunction with this article are for illustrative or informational purposes only. Their inclusion does not denote endorsement by the author of this article. extensive use of vaccines has proven a major public health success against infectious diseases. A vaccine is an administered immunologic preparation that stimulates the body’s immune system to produce protective humoral immunity such as antibodies or cell-mediated immunity such as sensitized T-lymphocytes. (In some cases, vaccinations stimulate both humoral and cell-mediated immunities.) By the end of the 20th century, bene ts were so dramatic in reducing the suffering from many previously common infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited vaccination as the number one public health achievement of the century. This disease decline is summarized in Table 1. As a result of multiple types of potential exposures to microbial pathogens transmitted via bloodborne, airborne and direct contact mechanisms, healthcare workers (HCW), including dental sta , have been documented to have particular occupational risks for a number of vaccine-preventable diseases. Over the years, public health agencies and professional health organizations have monitored the incidence of occupational infections and developed recommendations for HCW vaccinations, where appropriate. THE Initially, these guidelines primarily were aimed at stimulating immune protection for those HCW who had compromised immune defenses that could reduce their ability to resist and/or recover from certain infections. The rationale was to protect workers with reduced immune defense to the same extent as those who were immune competent. A 90% More than 90% of inﬂuenza-related deaths occur in persons ages 65 or older. Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Table 1 U.S. CASES OF VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES THROUGH 1998 Disease Smallpox Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Paralytic Polio Measles Mumps Rubella H. inluenzae, type b Number of Cases Baseline* 48,164 175,885 147,271 1,314 16,316 503,282 152,209 47,745 20,000 1998 0 0 7,405 41 0 100 666 364 63 Reduction (%) 100 100 95 97.9 100 100 99.6 99.3 99.7 * Baseline = 20th century annual pre-vaccine infection rate. Source: CDC Achievements in Public Health, 1900-99 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children—United States, 1990-1998. MMWR 48:243-8. Photo courtesy of Image Source/Getty Images DENTALPRODUCTSREPORT.COM | February http://www.dentalproductsreport.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Dental Products Report - February 2009

Dental Products Report - February 2009 Contents From the Editor 10 Questions Product Watch Clinical 360° Is This Your Nightmare? Place Predictable Posterior Restorations The New Standard in Caries Diagnosis Veraviewepocs 3De Retreatment Decisions Soft Tissue and Periodontal Diagnosis The Importance of Immunization Products in Practice How to Up Your Caries Detection Game A Team of Experts SurgiTel Oakley Loupes Snap-On Smile Word of Mouth

Dental Products Report - February 2009

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