Practices Related to Infection Control among Dental Professionals in Lahore, Pakistan: Practices Related to Infection Control among Dental Professionals

Uma Habiba

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v9i7.1397

Authors

Uma Habiba Department of Clinical Services, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v9i7.1397

Keywords:

Infection Control, Dental Laboratories, Qualitative Research, Knowledge-Practice Gap

Abstract

Although infection control is an integral part of dental practice, there has been limited compliance in Pakistan, which is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus in the world, with only a few quantitative studies reporting the prevalence of non-compliance and providing little understanding of the reasons for non-compliance. Objectives: To find out the perceptions, practices, and barriers toward infection control among dental professionals in Pakistan based on the HBM. Methods: Twenty dentists, dental technologists, and dental technicians were purposively sampled from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Peshawar from private clinics, government hospitals, and laboratories. The data collected were semi-structured interviews and observation of the sites, and were analyzed thematically in accordance with the six-phase method of Braun and Clarke; further, NVivo 14 software was used for the analysis. Results: Five themes were identified: a persistent gap between knowledge and practice, systemic problems including cost, limited supplies, and time pressure, lack of communication between clinics and labs as to the status of disinfection, poor formal training, and generally positive attitudes toward infection control with inconsistent practice. Participants with formal training were more consistent in practice than participants without formal training, and the majority indicated a high level of interest in being offered future training in the event that it was available. Conclusion: The theoretical knowledge of dental professionals in Pakistan about infection control is satisfactory; however, the practical implementation is hindered due to cost, supply, training, and communication barriers.

References

Kohn WG, Collins AS, Cleveland JL, Harte JA, Eklund KJ, Malvitz DM. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings-2003. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Recommendations and Reports. 2003 Dec; 52(17): 1-61. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2004.0019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2004.0019

Stoeva V, Miteva-Katrandzhieva T, Shamsee E. Survey on Dental Students’ Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control Rules. Dentistry Journal. 2026 Mar; 14(3): 153. doi: 10.3390/dj14030153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14030153

Al-Makramani BM. Infection Control in Dental Clinics: Prosthodontics Perspectives. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2023 Feb; 23(9): 953-61. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3305. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3305

Al-Aali K, Binalrimal S, AlShedokhi A, Al Saqer E, AlHumaid M. Infection Control Awareness Level among Dental Laboratory Technicians, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2021 Apr; 10(4): 1540. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2258_20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2258_20

Inayati E, Indiani SR, Gofur NR. Prevention and Control of Cross Infection at Dental Laboratories in East Java Province of Indonesia. Journal of Vocational Health Studies. 2021; 4(3): 125-30. doi: 10.20473/jvhs.V4.I3.2021.125-130. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20473/jvhs.V4.I3.2021.125-130

Mohamed SA, Abd-Almageed AS, Abdullah AA, Ahmed WR. Teaching Protocol for Nurses and Lab Technicians about Infection Control Measures for Patients Undergoing Dental Extraction. Assiut Scientific Nursing Journal. 2022 Jul; 10(31): 216-26.

Claesson R, Johansson A, Belibasakis GN. Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics in Dentistry: Application of Microbiological Methods. Frontiers in Oral Health. 2022 Sep; 3: 983991. doi: 10.3389/froh.2022.983991. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2022.983991

Moodley KL, Owen CP, Patel M. Quantitative Analysis of Selected Microorganisms Present at Various Sites in a Prosthetics Clinic and Dental Laboratory During Complete Denture Fabrication. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020 May; 17(10): 3345. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103345. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103345

Basmacı F, Kılıçarslan MA, Şenel FÇ. Recommendations for Infection Control in Dental Laboratories During COVID-19 Pandemic and Normalization Period. Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences. 2021 May; 5(2): 176-81. doi: 10.30621/jbachs.862910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30621/jbachs.862910

Taheri S, Shahabinezhad G, Torabi M, Parizi ST. Investigation of Microbial Contamination in the Clinic and Laboratory of the Prosthodontics Department of Dental School. Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clínica Integrada. 2021 Mar; 21: e0014. doi: 10.1590/pboci.2021.021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/pboci.2021.021

Braun V and Clarke V. Is Thematic Analysis Used Well in Health Psychology? A Critical Review of Published Research, With Recommendations for Quality Practice and Reporting. Health Psychology Review. 2023 Oct; 17(4): 695-718. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2022.2161594. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2022.2161594

Salah AN, Al-Otaibi MB, Al-Dhmashi AS, Mariee AA. Infection Control Practices and Approaches in the Dentistry Field; A Review. Journal of Bioscience and Applied Research. 2024 Mar; 10(1): 42-58.

Elnaili SA, Jaweesh RS, Kundie FA. Infection Control Practice: A cross-sectional Survey on Dental Laboratory Technicians in Benghazi, Libya. Libyan Journal of Dentistry. 2022 Sep; 6(2): 10-5. doi: 10.37376/ljd.v6i2.3745. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37376/ljd.v6i2.3745

Alsubaie RM, Alsubhi SM, Algethami AA, Alharbe AO, Althobaiti SG, Alshamrani MA et al. Integrated Infection Control Practices Across Dental Practitioners, Laboratory Specialists, Preventive Medicine Professionals, and Anaesthesia Technicians. The Review of Diabetic Studies. 2024 Aug: 227-34. doi: 10.70082/kshrfv24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70082/kshrfv24

Menawi W, Sabbah A, Kharraz L. Cross-Infection and Infection Control in Dental Clinics in Nablus and Tulkarm Districts. BioMed Central Microbiology. 2021 Dec; 21(1): 352. doi: 10.1186/s12866-021-02382-0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02382-0

Almutairi HA, Alzahrani AA, Al Sillah HN, Harbi AK, Alotaibi AG, Alharthi AO et al. Infection Control Protocols for Patient Safety: Collaboration of Dentist, Medical Nurse, Medical Doctor, Radiology, Laboratory, Nutrition, Anesthesia, Pharmacy, and Medical Information Department. The Review of Diabetic Studies. 2025 Jul: 243-78.

Zeglam M, Altier M, Alhawij H, Abuagila M. A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Bacterial Contamination in Fixed Prosthodontic Impressions Transferred from Clinics to Dental Laboratories: A Study in Tripoli, Libya. Razi Medical Journal. 2025 Jul: 137-43. doi: 10.69667/rmj.25307. DOI: https://doi.org/10.69667/rmj.25307

Golgeri MS, Haleem SH, Aljuwayed NH, Abdullah R, Alqahtani AD. Dental Technicians’ and Assistants’ Infection Control Knowledge and Practice in Dental Laboratories/Clinics of Saudi Arabia–A Cross-Sectional Survey. Journal of Dental Specialities. 2025; 13(1): 80-7. doi: 10.18231/j.jds.2025.012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jds.2025.012

Fredericks-Younger J, Fine DH, Subramanian G, Coker MO, Meyerowitz C, Ragusa P et al. The Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control Through Triage and Testing (PREDICT) Study: Protocol for a Prospective Clinical Study in the National Dental Practice–Based Research Network. Journal of Medical Internet Research: Research Protocols. 2022 Aug; 11(8): e38386. doi: 10.2196/38386. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/38386

Kalpakchieva N and Dokova K. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Cross-Infection Control among Dental Laboratory Technicians in Bulgaria: A Cross-Sectional Study. BioMed Central Oral Health. 2026 Jan; 26(1): 374. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-07762-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-026-07762-4

Toma D, Anghel L, Patraș D, Ciubară A. Hepatitis C Virus: Epidemiological Challenges and Global Strategies for Elimination. Viruses. 2025 Jul; 17(8): 1069. doi: 10.3390/v17081069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081069