Abstract

Keywords: Infection Control; Covid-19; Sars-Cov; Dentistry

Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) faces up to air-borne and blood-borne infections every day during dental work. Concerning COVID- 19 and as of 7 March 2020, 08.00, Italy represents 63% of the cases (n = 4636) and 92% of the fatalities (n = 197) in the EU/EEA, the UK, San Marino, Monaco and Switzerland, which totally count 7264 cases and 197 fatalities [1]. In Italy, the mortality rate (MR) seems to be higher than worldwide, being respectively 4,2% (197/4636) compared to 3,4% (3488/102132), but data could be affected by the differences of the applied case definitions in the affected countries. The main cluster of cases for COVID-19 has been found in Lombardy (56% of cases with MR 5,1%) and other cases (~32% with MR 3,5%) from three other Regions (Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Marche) [2,3]. Transmission events seem to have occurred locally and have been reported also in hospitals. Up to now, the restrictive and preventative measures have been extended for a few extra weeks in Italy, in particular in Lombardia and another 15 districts [4,5]. Concurrently, we should remember the fatalities and cases of other diseases with a similar mode of transmission. Fatalities for seasonal influenza and tuberculosis are estimated respectively to be about 8000 and 330 - 340 per year in Italy; in Lombardy, the new cases for tuberculosis, legionellosis and pneumonia acquired by different agents were respectively 598, 962, 653 in 2017 [6-8]. DHCP is in the front line for infection prevention during COVID-19 and other respiratory disease outbreaks (i.e. flu, meningitis etc) [9,10]. Long term occupational mental stress and health-risk is expected because DHCP is potentially exposed with almost all close contacts, but also stressed by misinformation and rumours.

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