SARS-CoV-2 e a prevenção da transmissão cruzada na Odontologia

Abstract

The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the pandemic disease known as COVID-19, infects human cells such as respiratory epithelial and salivary gland ducts, making the oral cavity and saliva a potential source of virus infection. Considering the close association of SARS-CoV-2 with the oral cavity, and of this with Dentistry, this work was divided into three stages: 1. Hygiene of pacifiers to prevent possible transmission of the virus, seeking to understand which methods of disinfection of pacifiers are more effective; 2. Biosafety assessment in dental offices in view of the imminent cross-transmission of the virus and 3. Assessment of risk and contamination by COVID-19 related to the professional performance of dentists. Regarding the first stage, a systematic review was carried out, with the question: “Is there a consensus on the decontamination of pacifiers?”, which was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020152011). A survey was carried out in different databases, using the descriptors "pacifier", "disinfection", "biofilm" and "microbiology". Initially 121 articles were obtained; after excluding duplicate studies and undergoing a final screening, 8 studies were chosen. All the methods of disinfection of pacifiers found were adequate for microbial control, however, there is currently no consensus on the ideal method, due to the diversity of protocols proposed with different agents and strategies. The pacifier can be considered a vehicle of microbial contamination and transmission, mainly of SARS-CoV-2; therefore, attention to their disinfection should be reinforced during times of pandemic. Regarding the second stage, the research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee - University Federal de Juiz de Fora (CEP/UFJF) - 4,026,242. This is a cross-sectional, quali-quantitative, snowball study with a sample of Dentists, working in Brazil l. Carried out through a selfadministered questionnaire with 25 questions. 413 e-questionnaires were obtained (May to June 2020). The guidelines given to the patient upon arrival at the dental office were different across the country. Most participants used the N95 type mask for some procedure. Clinical adjustments to procedures and equipment to prevent the spread of aerosols were different between specialty groups. This research suggested that biosafety guidance documents were not accessible to all dental professionals, making it difficult to establish measures to control the spread of the pandemic. Regarding the third stage, this is a qualitative-quantitative cross-sectional study, with a sample of 133 dentists, paired with elementary, secondary and higher education teachers (n=68) from all over Brazil. The research was approved by CEP/UFJF - 4,690,509. Data collection was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire (May to August 2021). Most of both professionals were female, from the Southeast region and had symptoms related to the disease. There was a statistical association between the variables type of examination performed, test result and days of absence, considering the profession (p< 0.05). According to the findings, the professional practice of dentists does not seem to play a substantial role in the infection process for COVID-19 compared to the teaching profession in Brazil.