Situation Analysis and Sustainability of Infection Control Practices in a Private Dental Institution – A Mixed Methods Research
Abstract
Context: Although the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for infection control and waste management are present since years, recent literature includes no reports on how Indian dentists manage cross-infection control, biomedical waste management, and the costs involved in the implementation of these policies and procedures. Aims: The aim of this study was to conduct a situation analysis of the infection control practices in an institution and estimate the costs involved in making these practices sustainable. Settings and Design: A mixed methods research methodology was followed, as the data were collected by a qualitative method and analyzed in a quantitative manner. Materials and Methods: An interview was conducted with the Hospital Infection Control Committee chairman to probe into the policy issues, verification of records was done to collect the data, nonparticipatory observation was used to record the infection control practices among dental healthcare personnel (DHCPs), and costs involved were extruded from the stores and accounts department. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were obtained using SPSS version 20. Results: The interview revealed the policies for infection control and the strategies for implementation. The overall efficiency of hand hygiene was 46%, gloving was 59.7%, mouth masking was 51%, donning of personal protective equipment was 47.9%, vaccination was 22.22%, patient care equipment was 67.6%, clinical contact surface disinfection was 22%, and waste management efficiency was 69%. Conclusions: Without a proper immunization status, appropriate personal protective equipment, lack of reinforcement for training sessions, and compliance with infection control policy, infections among patients and DHCPs could be at a rise. This research was able to recognize the missing links between the macro areas and process areas, i.e. the policies existing in the institution and their implementation. An intensive training program with focus on training undergraduates for infection control practices and reinforcement of training among waste handlers can be further planned.
Related
- Knowledge and practices toward occupational health and environmental sustainability among farmers in Pabna District, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
- MRSA Knowledge, Infection-Prevention Practices, and Antibiotic Use Without Clinician Consultation Among Hajj Pilgrims Arriving in Madinah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study †
- Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis: Clinical and Economic Impacts on Surgical Site Infection Prevention and Healthcare System Sustainability.
- Developing a youth sustainability healthy active living intervention for chronic disease prevention and environmental sustainability through community engagement and codesign: protocol for a multimethod community-based participatory research study in Canada and Jamaica
- Where did it go? How Information Management Practices Impact Rigor and Reproducibility in Collaborative Clinical and Translational Research
BibTeX
@article{rathore2026situation,
title = {{Situation Analysis and Sustainability of Infection Control Practices in a Private Dental Institution – A Mixed Methods Research}},
author = {Bhumika Rathore and Pushpanjali Krishnappa},
journal = {Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_308_24},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_308_24},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Situation Analysis and Sustainability of Infection Control Practices in a Private Dental Institution – A Mixed Methods Research
AU - Bhumika Rathore
AU - Pushpanjali Krishnappa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
DO - 10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_308_24
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_308_24
AB - Context: Although the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for infection control and waste management are present since years, recent literature includes no reports on how Indian dentists manage cross-infection control, biomedical waste management, and the costs involved in the implementation of these policies and procedures. Aims: The aim of this study was to conduct a situation analysis of the infection control practices in an institution and estimate the costs involved in making these practices sustainable. Settings and Design: A mixed methods research methodology was followed, as the data were collected by a qualitative method and analyzed in a quantitative manner. Materials and Methods: An interview was conducted with the Hospital Infection Control Committee chairman to probe into the policy issues, verification of records was done to collect the data, nonparticipatory observation was used to record the infection control practices among dental healthcare personnel (DHCPs), and costs involved were extruded from the stores and accounts department. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were obtained using SPSS version 20. Results: The interview revealed the policies for infection control and the strategies for implementation. The overall efficiency of hand hygiene was 46%, gloving was 59.7%, mouth masking was 51%, donning of personal protective equipment was 47.9%, vaccination was 22.22%, patient care equipment was 67.6%, clinical contact surface disinfection was 22%, and waste management efficiency was 69%. Conclusions: Without a proper immunization status, appropriate personal protective equipment, lack of reinforcement for training sessions, and compliance with infection control policy, infections among patients and DHCPs could be at a rise. This research was able to recognize the missing links between the macro areas and process areas, i.e. the policies existing in the institution and their implementation. An intensive training program with focus on training undergraduates for infection control practices and reinforcement of training among waste handlers can be further planned.
SN - 2319-5932
SN - 2350-0484
ER -