Awareness of Sterilization at Dental Clinics in two Cities of Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: To observer  sterilization  standard in dental clinic s of Hyderabad and Karachi.

Study Design: Comparative / Observational Study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Hyderabad and Karachi from Feb 2016 to July 2016.

Materials and Methods: In this survey data on sterilization methods was collected from two big cities of Pakistan, (Karachi and Hyderabad), by questionnaire method. Three undergraduate students from Hyderabad and two undergraduate students from Karachi were assigned to personally collect data from practitioners to insure 100% reliability. Different variables of sterilization were compared between cities.

Results: Data shows autoclaving without disinfection as the favored method of sterilization; 86% in Karachi as compared to Hyderabad, which shows disinfection prior to autoclaving in 70.2% practitioners. Brushing was the preferred method for mechanical dislodgement of debris in both cities, Karachi 88% and Hyderabad 81%. 13.5% of practitioners of Hyderabad performed sterilization by themselves while in Karachi only 9.3% performed themselves.. Preferred autoclaving temperature for both cities was 121^oC, Karachi 53.48% and Hyderabad 62.16%. Maintaining sterilization by using pouch during autoclaving was found more extensively in Karachi 100% in contrast to Hyderabad 73%. Neglecting checking of sensitivity of autoclave was found to be in greater odds in Hyderabad 60% than Karachi 37.21%.

Conclusions: Steam autoclaving as primary method of sterilization. Importance of checking of autoclave sensitivity was over sighted in both cities but on different scale.