tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clin Oral Investig
. 2022 Jan 11.
doi: 10.1007/s00784-021-04363-z. Online ahead of print.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among dental teams in Germany
Maria Mksoud[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Till Ittermann[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Birte Holtfreter[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Andreas Söhnel[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Carmen Söhnel[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Alexander Welk[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lena Ulm[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Karsten Becker[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Nils-Olaf Hübner[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Andrea Rau[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Stefan Kindler[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 5 [/SUP], Thomas Kocher[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: During the corona pandemic, dental practices temporarily closed their doors to patients except for emergency treatments. Due to the daily occupational exposure, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among dentists and their team is presumed to be higher than that in the general population. This study examined this issue among dental teams across Germany.
Materials and methods: In total, 2784 participants provided usable questionnaires and dry blood samples. Dry blood samples were used to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The questionnaires were analyzed to investigate demographic data and working conditions during the pandemic. Multivariable logistic mixed-effects models were applied.
Results: We observed 146 participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (5.2%) and 30 subjects with a borderline finding (1.1%). Seventy-four out of the 146 participants with SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies did not report a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (50.7%), while 27 participants without SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (1.1%). Combining the laboratory and self-reported information, the number of participants with a SARS-CoV-2 infection was 179 (6.5%). Though after adjustment for region, mixed-effects models indicated associations of use of rubber dams (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01-2.72) and the number of protective measures (OR 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01-1.34) with increased risk for positive SARS-CoV-2 status, none of those variables was significantly associated with a SARS-CoV-2 status in fully adjusted models.
Conclusions: The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was not higher among the dental team compared to the general population.
Clinical relevance: Following hygienic regulations and infection control measures ensures the safety of the dental team and their patients.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Epidemiology; Infection control; Occupational dentistry; Risk factor.
. 2022 Jan 11.
doi: 10.1007/s00784-021-04363-z. Online ahead of print.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among dental teams in Germany
Maria Mksoud[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Till Ittermann[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Birte Holtfreter[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Andreas Söhnel[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Carmen Söhnel[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Alexander Welk[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lena Ulm[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Karsten Becker[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Nils-Olaf Hübner[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Andrea Rau[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Stefan Kindler[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 5 [/SUP], Thomas Kocher[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35015149
- DOI: 10.1007/s00784-021-04363-z
Abstract
Objectives: During the corona pandemic, dental practices temporarily closed their doors to patients except for emergency treatments. Due to the daily occupational exposure, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among dentists and their team is presumed to be higher than that in the general population. This study examined this issue among dental teams across Germany.
Materials and methods: In total, 2784 participants provided usable questionnaires and dry blood samples. Dry blood samples were used to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The questionnaires were analyzed to investigate demographic data and working conditions during the pandemic. Multivariable logistic mixed-effects models were applied.
Results: We observed 146 participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (5.2%) and 30 subjects with a borderline finding (1.1%). Seventy-four out of the 146 participants with SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies did not report a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (50.7%), while 27 participants without SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (1.1%). Combining the laboratory and self-reported information, the number of participants with a SARS-CoV-2 infection was 179 (6.5%). Though after adjustment for region, mixed-effects models indicated associations of use of rubber dams (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01-2.72) and the number of protective measures (OR 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01-1.34) with increased risk for positive SARS-CoV-2 status, none of those variables was significantly associated with a SARS-CoV-2 status in fully adjusted models.
Conclusions: The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was not higher among the dental team compared to the general population.
Clinical relevance: Following hygienic regulations and infection control measures ensures the safety of the dental team and their patients.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Epidemiology; Infection control; Occupational dentistry; Risk factor.