Reporting occupational exposure to blood and body fluids

Prevalence rates of blood-borne viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis C continue to increase across the UK. It must not be forgotten that every time we treat a patient in our dental surgeries, we are potentially putting ourselves at risk of exposure to one of these infective agents.

The highest risk of transmission of a blood-borne virus occurs during a percutaneous injury, for example, puncture of the skin by a contaminated needle or sharp object. The evidence suggests that the greatest proportion of these sharps injuries occur as a result of inappropriate handling and disposal of instruments. With this in mind, given that it is often the role of the dental nurse to clean, decontaminate and sterilise instruments, it could be argued that their risk of exposure is greater than that of dental practitioners.