J Am Dent Assoc. 2017 Mar;148(3):164-171. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.11.032. Epub 2017 Jan 23.
In this study, the authors compared the odds of exposure to Legionella pneumophila among currently active dental practitioners with that of nonpractitioners and evaluated demographic and clinical practice predictors of exposure.
The authors obtained demographic characteristics and dental practice behaviors from participants in the annual American Dental Association Health Screening Program survey administered from 2002 through 2012. The authors assayed serum samples obtained from participants for L pneumophila antibodies. The authors used an adjusted logit model to evaluate predictors of positive results.
Among 5,431 participants, approximately 10% were positive for L pneumophila, with no significant differences between dental practitioners and nonpractitioners. Geographic location was the only significant predictor of seropositivity, with no increased risk of being exposed to L pneumophila associated with age, race, sex, years in practice, hours of practice per week, use of barrier protection, or infection control practices.
Prevalence of L pneumophila antibodies was 10.4% among dental and nondental personnel. US Census division was the only significant predictor of seropositivity. The authors conclude that provision of dental care did not increase the risk of being exposed to Legionella.
Dentists should be aware of the prevalence of Legionella species in their practice areas to understand their personal risk of developing an infection.
在这项研究中，作者比较了目前活跃的牙科从业者与非从业者之间接触嗜肺军团菌的几率，并评估了暴露的人口统计学和临床实践预测因素。
作者从 2002 年至 2012 年期间参加美国牙科协会健康筛查计划年度调查的参与者那里获得了人口统计学特征和牙科实践行为。作者对参与者的血清样本进行了嗜肺军团菌抗体检测。作者使用调整后的对数模型评估了阳性结果的预测因素。
在 5431 名参与者中，约有 10%的人对嗜肺军团菌呈阳性，牙科从业者和非从业者之间没有显著差异。地理位置是血清阳性的唯一显著预测因素，与年龄、种族、性别、从业年限、每周从业小时数、使用屏障保护或感染控制措施无关，接触嗜肺军团菌的风险没有增加。
在牙科和非牙科人员中，嗜肺军团菌抗体的流行率为 10.4%。美国人口普查区是血清阳性的唯一显著预测因素。作者得出结论，提供牙科护理不会增加接触军团菌的风险。
牙医应了解其执业区域内军团菌的流行情况，以了解自身感染的个人风险。
