{"title":"Hantavirus in Dentistry: Occupational Exposure Considerations and a Proposed Tiered Infection Prevention and Control Framework—A Narrative Review","authors":"Parsa Vafaei, Morteza Banakar, Mostafa Alam, Mohammad Javad Askari, Mohsen Golkar","doi":"10.1002/cre2.70481","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objective</h3>\n \n <p>The aim of this study is to synthesize evidence on hantavirus transmission and occupational exposure pathways relevant to dentistry, and to propose an evidence-informed tiered infection prevention and control (IPC) framework that distinguishes established from theoretical risk.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Material and Methods</h3>\n \n <p>The initial narrative search covered database inception through May 15, 2026 in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and WHO/CDC/ECDC/OSHA sources, followed by a targeted PubMed/MEDLINE and public-health guidance update through August 18, 2026. Approximately 1450 records were identified. After duplicate removal, 1070 records were subjected to title/abstract screening, 215 full-text records were assessed for eligibility, and 45 sources were included in the final synthesis, comprising 34 peer-reviewed publications and 11 gray-literature or public-health guidance sources.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Environmental exposure to infected-rodent contamination is the established occupational pathway. Limited person-to-person transmission is documented for the Andes virus (ANDV), but no dental transmission has been reported. ANDV RNA and culture-based infectivity have been demonstrated in some oral/respiratory fluids; however, dental-aerosol transmission has not been shown. Dental-specific occupational risk therefore remains unquantified.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>No dental transmission has been documented, and patient-related risk remains uncertain. Standard precautions and rodent control are foundational; suspected or confirmed ANDV warrants transmission-based precautions and airborne precautions for aerosol-generating procedures according to current guidance. The proposed dental tiers are evidence-informed, author-derived, and unvalidated.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":10203,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Dental Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13640971/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical and Experimental Dental Research","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cre2.70481","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study is to synthesize evidence on hantavirus transmission and occupational exposure pathways relevant to dentistry, and to propose an evidence-informed tiered infection prevention and control (IPC) framework that distinguishes established from theoretical risk.
Material and Methods
The initial narrative search covered database inception through May 15, 2026 in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and WHO/CDC/ECDC/OSHA sources, followed by a targeted PubMed/MEDLINE and public-health guidance update through August 18, 2026. Approximately 1450 records were identified. After duplicate removal, 1070 records were subjected to title/abstract screening, 215 full-text records were assessed for eligibility, and 45 sources were included in the final synthesis, comprising 34 peer-reviewed publications and 11 gray-literature or public-health guidance sources.
Results
Environmental exposure to infected-rodent contamination is the established occupational pathway. Limited person-to-person transmission is documented for the Andes virus (ANDV), but no dental transmission has been reported. ANDV RNA and culture-based infectivity have been demonstrated in some oral/respiratory fluids; however, dental-aerosol transmission has not been shown. Dental-specific occupational risk therefore remains unquantified.
Conclusions
No dental transmission has been documented, and patient-related risk remains uncertain. Standard precautions and rodent control are foundational; suspected or confirmed ANDV warrants transmission-based precautions and airborne precautions for aerosol-generating procedures according to current guidance. The proposed dental tiers are evidence-informed, author-derived, and unvalidated.
目的:本研究的目的是综合汉坦病毒传播和与牙科相关的职业暴露途径的证据,并提出一个基于证据的分层感染预防和控制(IPC)框架,将实际风险与理论风险区分开来。材料和方法:最初的叙述搜索涵盖了MEDLINE/PubMed、Embase、Web of Science、Scopus、b谷歌Scholar和WHO/CDC/ECDC/OSHA来源的数据库建立至2026年5月15日,随后是有针对性的PubMed/MEDLINE和公共卫生指南更新至2026年8月18日。大约有1450条记录被确认。在重复删除后,1070条记录进行了标题/摘要筛选,215条全文记录进行了合格性评估,并将45个来源纳入最终综合,包括34份同行评审出版物和11份灰色文献或公共卫生指导来源。结果:啮齿动物污染环境暴露是确定的职业途径。安第斯病毒(ANDV)有有限的人际传播记录,但没有牙齿传播的报告。在一些口腔/呼吸道液体中已经证实了ANDV RNA和基于培养的传染性;然而,口腔气溶胶传播尚未被证实。因此,牙科特有的职业风险仍然无法量化。结论:没有记录的牙齿传播,患者相关的风险仍然不确定。标准预防措施和啮齿动物控制是基础;疑似或确诊的ANDV需要根据现行指南采取基于传播的预防措施和气溶胶产生程序的空气传播预防措施。建议的牙科分级是有证据依据的,作者衍生的,未经验证的。
期刊介绍:
Clinical and Experimental Dental Research aims to provide open access peer-reviewed publications of high scientific quality representing original clinical, diagnostic or experimental work within all disciplines and fields of oral medicine and dentistry. The scope of Clinical and Experimental Dental Research comprises original research material on the anatomy, physiology and pathology of oro-facial, oro-pharyngeal and maxillofacial tissues, and functions and dysfunctions within the stomatognathic system, and the epidemiology, aetiology, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of diseases and conditions that have an effect on the homeostasis of the mouth, jaws, and closely associated structures, as well as the healing and regeneration and the clinical aspects of replacement of hard and soft tissues with biomaterials, and the rehabilitation of stomatognathic functions. Studies that bring new knowledge on how to advance health on the individual or public health levels, including interactions between oral and general health and ill-health are welcome.