Environmental Disinfection of a Dental Clinic during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Insight

Abstract

Background. The control of biological hazard risk in health care and dental clinic environments represents a critical point in relation to the Covid-19 infection outbreak and international public health emergency. The purpose of the present review was to evaluate the scientific literature on the no-touch disinfection procedures in dental clinics aiming to limit transmission via airborne particles or fomites using no-touch procedures for environmental decontamination of dental clinics. Methods. An electronic database literature search was performed to retrieve research papers about Covid-19 and no-touch disinfection topics including full-length articles, editorials, commentaries, and outbreak studies. A total of 86 papers were retrieved by the electronic research. Results. No clinical article about the decontamination of a dental clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic was detected. About the topic of hospital decontamination, we found different no-touch disinfection procedures used in hospital against highly resistant organisms, but no data were found in the search for such procedures with respect to SARS-CoV-2: (1) aerosolized hydrogen peroxide, (2) H2O2 vapor, (3) ultraviolet C light, (4) pulsed xenon, and (5) gaseous ozone. One paper was retrieved concerning SARS-CoV-2; 32 documents focused on SARS and MERS. The cleaning and disinfection protocol of health care and dental clinic environment surfaces are essential elements of infection prevention programs, especially during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Conclusion. The decontamination technique that best suits the needs of the dental clinic is peroxide and hypochlorous which can be sprayed via a device at high turbine speed with the ability of producing small aerosol particles, recommendable also for their low cost.

The Potential Use of Hypochlorous Acid and a Smart Prefabricated Sanitising Chamber to Reduce Occupation-Related COVID-19 Exposure

“… 29 It should be noted that mist applications have already been approved for eyelid infection management, 20 skin 23 and cosmetics 30 with repeated daily exposure for a set period of time. Other reviews by Block and Rowan 31 and Scarano et al 32 found that hypochlorous acid had high predictability and low cost to disinfect against COVID-19 in oral-maxillofacial clinics by spraying small aerosol particles. This review calls for more investigations into the effect of HOCl in mist and fog form on the skin, eyes, and respiratory system when exposed in the proposed smart prefabricated sanitising chamber, especially in the presence of organic substances.…”

SARS-CoV-2 Disease Adjuvant Therapies and Supplements Breakthrough for the Infection Prevention

“…In the assessment of the contagion of saliva, it is important to consider the “ time of physical decay ” depending on the droplets size (Flügge’s droplets), the speed of emission (sneeze or cough), the moisture content in the room and the air exchange, and the “ biological decay ”, namely how long the virus keeps infecting in saliva droplets. The biological decay is caused by dehydration, ultraviolet rays, and chemical products [ 39 , 40 , 41 ]. There are some studies performed about the persistency of the 2019-nCoV in aerosol and different surfaces (plastic, steel, copper, carton) [ 24 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

“…The biological decay depends on temperature (at 30–40 °C, virus expires), and at a temperature of less than 4 °C, SARS-CoV-2 may remain active for up to 28 days. Using for the disinfection of surfaces: 0.1% sodium hypochlorite or 62–71% ethanol coronavirus notably reduces its infecting action on the surfaces within 1 min of exposure [ 28 , 40 , 43 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Shanna Ratnesar-Shumate et al showed some encouraging results about the capacity of the sun light to quickly disactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.…”

“…In a study performed by Herrera, the authors indicated the use of a combination of mouth rinses in order to reduce the viral load [ 88 ]. The combination includes N-hexadecyl pyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, citrox, and cetylpyridinium chloride; also it includes essential oil and beta cyclodectrin [ 40 ].…”

Disinfection of Stethoscope and Non-Infrared Thermometer: Practices of Physicians in Ethiopia in the Era of COVID-19

“…The novelty of COVID-19 pandemic -along with its uncertainties -makes it critical for health authorities to develop appropriate medical equipment and environmental disinfection regulations to keep the safety for both patients and clinicians in the countenance of the current COVID-19 pandemic. 26 The oft-cited Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, advocating for non-critical medical equipment, such as stethoscopes, should be disinfected once daily or weekly. 6 The above standards might not be reflective on the current danger that a contaminated stethoscope may feasibly jeopardize patients' and physicians' safety -given the survival potential of coronavirus to thrive on different surfaces for an extended period of time.…”