Assessment of hepatitis B vaccination and compliance with infection control among dentists in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine coverage and the use of infection control among dentists in Saudi Arabia. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out during the Third International Conference at the King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Dentistry, held on March 2012 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi or expatriate dentists working in Saudi Arabia were included in the study. The questionnaires were designed to meet the objective of the study. RESULTS A total of 402 dentists of whom 176 (44%) were male and 226 (56%) female took part in this study. Their mean age was 37.4 years. In all, 246 (61%) were general dentists and 156 (39%) specialists. Four-fifths (80.5%) of them had been vaccinated. Almost half (48.5%) had experience of needle stick injury, but none reported having been infected with HBV. Among the vaccinated dentists, 186 (57.5%) had not been screened for HBV antibodies. Younger dentists were more particular about vaccination and more careful in using protective wear. There was an association between protective barriers and HBV vaccination, but there was no association between history of needle stick injury and vaccination. CONCLUSION Dental healthcare workers have a high risk of infection with HBV due to the nature of their work; so there should be a mandatory program to vaccinate dentists against HBV and to ensure application of protective measures during their practice.