SARS-CoV-2 Infection among the Dental Staff from Lombardy Region, Italy

Silvano Gallus, Luca Paroni, Dino Re, Riccardo Aiuto, Davide Maria Battaglia, Rolando Crippa, Nicolò Carugo, Matteo Beretta, Lorenzo Balsano and Luigi Paglia
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Silvano Gallus: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
Luca Paroni: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
Dino Re: Department of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Science, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Riccardo Aiuto: Department of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Science, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Davide Maria Battaglia: Department of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Science, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Rolando Crippa: Fondazione Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, 20122 Milan, Italy
Nicolò Carugo: Fondazione Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, 20122 Milan, Italy
Matteo Beretta: Private Practice in Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, 21100 Varese, Italy
Lorenzo Balsano: Private Practice in Dentistry, Pandino, 26065 Cremona, Italy
Luigi Paglia: Fondazione Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, 20122 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Dentists have been supposed to be among the healthcare workers at greatest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, scant data are available on the issue. The aim of this study is to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence and determinants in a sample of dentists, dental hygienists, and other personnel employed among the dental staff in Lombardy region. We used an accurate rapid diagnostic test kit detecting immunoglobulins (Ig) in 504 adults. Of the 499 participants who obtained a valid antibody test, 54 (10.8%) had a SARS-CoV-2 positive test (0.4% IgM+, 1.8% both IgM+ and IgG+, and 8.6% IgG+). A statistically significant association with infection was found for geographic area (compared to Milan, adjusted odds ratio was 2.79, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.01–7.68 for eastern and 2.82, 95% CI: 1.34–5.94, for southern Lombardy). The clinical staff did not result positive to SARS-CoV-2 more frequently than the administrative staff. This is the first study using antibody test in the dental staff personnel. It shows that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Lombardy region was around 10%, in line with estimates on other healthcare professionals. Despite the close physical contact with the patient, dentists have been able to scrupulously manage and effectively use protective devices.

Keywords: Sars-Cov-2; coronavirus; COVID-19; dentists; antibody; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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