Epidemiological features of acute respiratory infections in dentists

Aim. To study the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in medical staff of dental clinics.Materials and Methods. We performed a descriptive, retrospective epidemiological study of ARI incidence by means of conducting an anonymous survey of 1,081 dentistry practitioners (358 in specialised dental clinics and 723 employees of polyclinics) in Kemerovo (2020). ARI included COVID-19, community-acquired pneumonia, and other common respiratory viral infections. The questionnaire included 12 questions about ARI, age, gender, working experience, and position.Results. The incidence of ARI in dentistry practitioners in specialised dental clinics was 2.6-fold higher as compared with those working in polyclinics [379.52 per 1,000 (95% CI = 327.10-434.11) and 146.19 per 1,000 (95% CI = 120.56-174.93), respectively, p = 0,00001], regardless of age. Prolonged and close contact with the patients along with an intensive use of aerosol-generating technologies were associated with a 2.3-fold times higher incidence of ARI in dental therapists in comparison with dental surgeons. Female dentists suffered from ARI 1.8-fold more frequently than males [410.91 per 1,000 (95% CI = 352,18-471,58) and 228.07 per 1,000 (95% CI = 127.40-358.36), p = 0,01] but most women worked as dental therapists that could confound such association. ARI incidence was not associated with age, work experience, and position (p = 0.22).Conclusion. Dentistry practitioners working in specialised clinics more frequently experienced ARI than those working in polyclinics. Dental therapists were at higher risk of ARI in comparison with dental surgeons, potentially due to the active use of aerosol generating technologies and prolonged close contact with the patients during treatment. Other factors were not among the major determinants of ARI incidence in dentistry practitioners.