The Assessment of Blood Exposure Accidents at Casablanca Dental Center for Treatment and Consultation in Morocco

Objective: The purpose of this analysis is to determine the frequency of blood exposure accidents (BEAs), evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dentists regarding infectious risk, particularly after a BEA, and to propose actions within a prevention policy framework.Method: A descriptive epidemiological survey was conducted among 142 dentists practicing at the Dental Consultation and Treatment Center through an anonymous questionnaire.Results: Our study found a response rate of 96.6%, noting that standard precautions were used regularly and systematically by most dentists: glove use 95.8%, protective goggles 36.5%, face mask 83%, use of sharps containers 90.8%, but only 39.2% had received the hepatitis B booster vaccine. In fact, 53.8% of dentists declared having been victims of at least one BEA. The most frequent mechanism of occurrence was needle sticks (73.2%). We identified gaps in their attitudes towards BEA: among 90.6% who practiced emergency measures after a BEA, only 83.9% practiced them properly. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy between the knowledge and the practitioners’ actual practice regarding these accidents. Among the 94.7% of practitioners who stated serological follow-up is necessary after a BEA, only 63.2% checked the serological status of patients involved in the BEA. Conclusion: These results show the urgent need for improved procedures to reinforce awareness and enhance dentists’ understanding of BEA risks. Additionally, training practitioners is essential to better control the conduct to be followed immediately and subsequently in the event of such accidents.