Dental Health Care Personnel (DHCP) Exposures to Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus: Risk, Prevention and Management

Current data indicates that the risk of transmilssion of blood-borne pathogens in dental health care settings is low. Pre-exposure hepatitis B vaccination and the use of standard precautions to prevent exposure to blood are the most effective strategies for preventing DHCP from occupational infection with HIV, HBV or HCV. Dental health care facility should develop a comprehensive written program for preventing and managing occupational exposures to blood that, describes types of blood exposures that may place DHCP at risk for infection, outlines procedures for promptly reporting and evaluating such exposures, and identifies a health care professional who is qualified to provide counseling and perform all medical evaluations and procedures in accordance with the most current USPHS recommendations. Finally, resources should be available that permit rapid access to clinical care, testing, counseling, and PEP for exposed DHCP and testing and counseling of patients.