       Document 0502
 DOCN  M9610502
 TI    Occupational health and safety emergencies.
 DT    9601
 AU    Goupil MT; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of;
       Connecticut, School of Dental Medicine, Newington, USA.
 SO    Dent Clin North Am. 1995 Jul;39(3):637-47. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96045160
 AB    When considering potentials emergencies in the dental office, one
       usually first thinks about potential drug reactions or adverse response
       to underlying systemic diseases. The rare, but potential, emergencies
       arising from the office environment itself also exist. Toxic reactions
       to various chemicals found in the office must be considered also.
       Adequate ventilation helps prevent the long-term consequences of
       breathing nitrous oxide and chemclave exhaust. Care must be taken in
       obtaining complete medical histories. Identify patients with
       communicable diseases such as TB. The potential for transmission of
       these infections to office staff and other patients exists. Health
       histories must include the ability to identify patients with latex
       sensitivity. The increased use of latex products among health care
       workers has resulted in a higher incidence of latex sensitivity. The
       office staff must be prepared to recognize and quickly treat
       anaphylactic reactions. A latex-free environment must be provided for
       high-risk patients. Even with the use of universal precautions, blood
       contamination exposures and needle sticks will still occur. Protect
       office staff against hepatitis through the administration of a hepatitis
       prevention vaccine. Establish a protocol in advance for handling blood
       exposure incidents. Update the patient history to determine potential
       risk. The exposed individual must receive counseling as to the potential
       risk of HIV infection. If there is a potential risk of HIV
       contamination, the exposed individual must be offered the opportunity to
       initiate prophylactic chemotherapy within 1 hour of exposure. Even
       though occupational health and safety emergencies are rare, they must be
       considered and planned for. Contingency plans, such as providing a
       latex-free environment, must be available for preventing emergencies.
       The office staff must be prepared to treat immediate emergencies such as
       anaphylaxis and caustic material spills. Arrangements must be available
       to quickly handle exposure to communicable infections.
 DE    Air Pollutants, Occupational  Air Pollution, Indoor/PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Dental Offices  *Dental Staff  *Dentists  Disease Transmission,
       Patient-to-Professional/PREVENTION &  CONTROL  *Emergencies  Hepatitis
       B/PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Hepatitis B Vaccines  Human
       Hypersensitivity/PREVENTION & CONTROL  HIV Infections/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Occupational Diseases/*PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Occupational Health  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

