June 2005 ■ Journal of Dental Education 693 Compliance with Infection Control Programs in Private Dental Clinics in Jordan Mohammad Ahmad Al-Omari, B.D.S., M.S.C., Ph.D., F.F.D.R.D.C.I.; Ziad Nawaf Al-Dwairi, B.D.S., Ph.D. Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the compliance of general dental practitioners (GDPs) in the private sector in North Jordan with infection control measures. A pilot-tested questionnaire about infection control measures was distributed in March 2004 to 120 private practices. The response rate was 91.66 percent. About 77 percent of dentists usually ask their patients about medical history, 36 percent were vaccinated against hepatitis B, 81.8 percent wear and change gloves during treatment and between patients, and 54.5 percent wear and change masks during treatment and between patients. Most dental practitioners (95.4 percent) reported that they changed extraction instruments and burs between patients. All dental practitioners reported that they changed saliva ejectors between patients, but only 41.8 percent changed handpieces between patients. Approximately 63 percent (69/110) used autoclaves for sterilization, 47.3 percent (52/110) used plastic bags to wrap sterilized instruments, and only 18 percent (20/110) disinfected impressions before sending them to dental labs. Fourteen percent used rubber dams in their clinics, and only 31.8 percent had special containers for sharps disposal. Based on these responses, approximately 14 percent of general dentists in this sample were considered to be compliant with an inventory of recommended infection control measures. In Jordan, there is a great need to provide formal and obligatory infection control courses and guidelines for private dentists by the Ministry of Health and the dental association in addition to distribution of standard infection control manuals that incorporate current infection control recommendations. Dr. Al-Omari is Associate Professor and Dr. Al-Dwairi is Assistant Professor—both in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology. Direct correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr. Ziad Nawaf Al-Dwairi, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid-Jordan; 0096227201000 phone; 0096227095115 fax; ziadd@just.edu.jo. Key words: infection, private, programs, sterilization, Jordan Submitted for publication 11/11/04; accepted 3/29/05 T he identification of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the epidemiologic evidence of its transmission through inoculation with contaminated blood, 1,2 in addition to early reports of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission to patients from surgeons and dentists, 3 all raised concerns related to cross infection with HIV and HBV and other bloodborne pathogens. As a result, there was a need to develop infection control recommendations de- signed to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne diseases in health care facilities. These procedures were termed as universal standard pre- cautions, which consider all blood and blood-con- taminated fluids as potentially infectious. 4,5 The is- sue of cross infection becomes an integral part of dental practice and a major concern to dentists and patients due to the increased risk of hepatitis and AIDS. 6,7 Both viruses can be transmitted after needle- stick injuries and contact with body secretions 8 and also because many infected patients are unaware of their status or not willing to disclose their disease status to health care workers. 9,10 There have been sev- eral reports of HBV and HIV transmission to patients from surgeons despite the development of the uni- versal precautions. 11-13 To minimize the risk of cross infection in the dental office, specific recommendations have been issued by professional health agencies. These rec- ommendations include routine use of barrier tech- niques (gloves, masks), heat sterilization of dental instruments, vaccination against HBV, and the uni- versal precautions. Dentists’ compliance with these recommendations and infection control programs (ICP) has been recently studied in different parts of the world. 7,14-18,20 These investigations indicate that there are gaps in some dentists’ knowledge regard- ing modes of transmission of infectious diseases, the risk of infection from needle stick injuries, and aware- ness that general measures that protect against HBV transmission are sufficient to protect against HIV. However, dentists working in hospitals and dental schools are more likely to adhere to ICP than private sector dentists because institutions usually have oc- cupational health policies related to infection control. 19 The role of the dental assistant is vital to the process of infection control; however, the adherence of this particular group to these guidelines is inad- equate because they receive less formal training than provided for dentists. 20 The compliance of dental assistants is not investigated in this study because