Swine flu can affect the dental office just as easily as anywhere else. With information obtained from the CDA website (below), we have come up with some suggestions and best practices for preventing the spread of H1N1 in the dental office. Respiratory cough etiquette, along with disinfectant precautions, are currently recommended for preventing the transmission of swine flu in a dental healthcare setting. CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of H1N1 have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico and Canada. Using medical grade disinfectant sprays will kill H1N1, MRSA, TB, HPV, HIV-1 (AIDS Virus) and more. The sprays are also safe for all areas of your practice - the exam room, all hard surfaces, tools and instruments, and all patient care rooms. Below, read more about preventing the spread of H1N1 in dental settings.

What should I do if a patient is present for a routine checkup, and has respiratory symptoms? If the dentist suspects the illness could be due to swine flu (fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting are all symptoms), elective dental treatment should be stalled and the patient should be instructed to contact their health care provider. The health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is necessary. Be sure to sterilize and disinfect any instrument or surface touched by the patient with a proper grade disinfectant spray.

How would you handle a situation where the patient has symptoms, but requires urgent dental care? If necessary dental care is required and H1N1 has either been confirmed or suspected, the care should be provided in a facility (hospital with dental care capabilities) that provides airborne infection isolation (airborne infection isolation rooms with negative pressure air handling).

For aerosol-generating procedures, use a procedure room with negative pressure air handling. Personnel providing direct patient care for suspected or confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases should wear a fit-tested disposable 3M N95 mask (respirator masks) when entering the patient room and when performing dental procedures. Respirator use should be in the context of a complete respiratory protection program, in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

What if someone of your staff reports to work with acute respiratory symptoms? Staff experiencing influenza-like-illness (fever with cough or sore throat) should not report to work. Staff who experience these symptoms and wish to seek medical care should contact their healthcare provider to report the illness before seeking care at a clinic, physician's office, or hospital. Workers who were not using appropriate personal protective equipment during close contact with a confirmed, probable, or suspect case of swine flu (H1N1) virus infection during the case's infectious period should receive chemoprophylaxis according to CDC guidance. Finally, employees who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, or are believed to be severely ill, should seek immediate medical attention.

With the proper preventative measures, issues surrounding swine flu and H1N1 infection can be controlled. Using proper cough etiquette, n95 masks, and high grade disinfectant sprays, can go a long way in preventing the spread of H1N1 swine flu in the dental setting.