Rates and predictors of exposure to Legionella pneumophila in the United States among dental practitioners : 2002 through 2012

Copyright © 2017 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved..

BACKGROUND: In this study, the authors compared the odds of exposure to Legionella pneumophila among currently active dental practitioners with that of nonpractitioners and evaluated demographic and clinical practice predictors of exposure.

METHODS: The authors obtained demographic characteristics and dental practice behaviors from participants in the annual American Dental Association Health Screening Program survey administered from 2002 through 2012. The authors assayed serum samples obtained from participants for L pneumophila antibodies. The authors used an adjusted logit model to evaluate predictors of positive results.

RESULTS: Among 5,431 participants, approximately 10% were positive for L pneumophila, with no significant differences between dental practitioners and nonpractitioners. Geographic location was the only significant predictor of seropositivity, with no increased risk of being exposed to L pneumophila associated with age, race, sex, years in practice, hours of practice per week, use of barrier protection, or infection control practices.

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of L pneumophila antibodies was 10.4% among dental and nondental personnel. US Census division was the only significant predictor of seropositivity. The authors conclude that provision of dental care did not increase the risk of being exposed to Legionella.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists should be aware of the prevalence of Legionella species in their practice areas to understand their personal risk of developing an infection.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2017

Erschienen:

2017

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:148

Enthalten in:

Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) - 148(2017), 3 vom: 15. März, Seite 164-171

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Estrich, Cameron G [VerfasserIn]
Gruninger, Stephen E [VerfasserIn]
Lipman, Ruth D [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antibodies, Bacterial
Dental unit waterlines
Dentistry
Infection control
Journal Article
L pneumophila
Legionella

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 05.10.2018

Date Revised 30.03.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.adaj.2016.11.032

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM268372152