Human Saliva Laboratory of State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Mol Oral Microbiol. 2020 Aug;35(4):141-145. doi: 10.1111/omi.12289. Epub 2020 May 31.
SARS-CoV-2, a novel emerging coronavirus, has caused severe disease (COVID-19), and rapidly spread worldwide since the beginning of 2020. SARS-CoV-2 mainly spreads by coughing, sneezing, droplet inhalation, and contact. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in saliva samples, making saliva a potential transmission route for COVID-19. The participants in dental practice confront a particular risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to close contact with the patients and potential exposure to saliva-contaminated droplets and aerosols generated during dental procedures. In addition, saliva-contaminated surfaces could lead to potential cross-infection. Hence, the control of saliva-related transmission in the dental clinic is critical, particularly in the epidemic period of COVID-19. Based on our experience of the COVID-19 epidemic, some protective measures that can help reduce the risk of saliva-related transmission are suggested, in order to avoid the potential spread of SARS-CoV-2 among patients, visitors, and dental practitioners.
新型冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2）是一种新兴的冠状病毒，自 2020 年初以来，已导致严重疾病（COVID-19），并在全球迅速传播。SARS-CoV-2 主要通过咳嗽、打喷嚏、飞沫吸入和接触传播。已经在唾液样本中检测到 SARS-CoV-2，这使得唾液成为 COVID-19 的潜在传播途径。由于与患者密切接触以及在牙科手术过程中可能接触到受唾液污染的飞沫和气溶胶，牙科从业人员面临着特别感染 SARS-CoV-2 的风险。此外，受唾液污染的表面可能导致潜在的交叉感染。因此，控制牙科诊所中与唾液相关的传播至关重要，尤其是在 COVID-19 流行期间。基于我们在 COVID-19 疫情期间的经验，建议采取一些有助于降低与唾液相关的传播风险的防护措施，以避免 SARS-CoV-2 在患者、访客和牙科从业人员之间的潜在传播。
