The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued information to the public and healthcare providers on the recent outbreak of swine influenza in humans. Although the information is aimed at individuals in the USA, UK dental practitioners may also find it of interest.

Dental healthcare providers are urged to view the main CDC swine flu webpage for the latest updates, but frequently asked questions by dental providers have been:

  • What to do if a patient presents for routine treatment and has acute respiratory symptoms with or without fever?

  • What to do if a patient with acute respiratory symptoms requires urgent dental care?; and

  • What to do if staff report to work with acute respiratory symptoms?

Patients with an acute respiratory illness may present for dental treatment at outpatient dental settings. According to the CDC the primary infection control goal is to prevent transmission of disease.

Early detection of a suspected or confirmed case of swine influenza and prompt isolation from susceptible persons will reduce the risk of transmission. To prevent the transmission of respiratory infections including influenza in healthcare settings, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette infection control measures should be implemented at the first point of contact with a potentially infected person.

Patients with an acute respiratory illness should be identified at check-in and be placed in a single-patient room with the door kept closed. Offer a disposable surgical mask to persons who are coughing or provide tissues and no-touch receptacles for used tissue disposal.

The ill person should wear a surgical mask when outside the patient room and dental healthcare personnel assessing a patient with influenza-like illness should wear disposable surgical facemask, non-sterile gloves, gown, and eye protection (eg goggles) to prevent direct skin and conjunctival exposure.

Patients and dental healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene (eg hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials.

Routine cleaning and disinfection strategies used during influenza seasons can be applied to the environmental management of swine influenza. The CDC say that respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette infection control measures along with contact precautions are currently recommended for preventing transmission of swine influenza in a dental healthcare setting.

The CDC is working very closely with officials in US states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm.