Back to School - Back to Respiratory Illnesses

As the summer winds down and the school bells ring, children across the country are gearing up for a new academic year. However, along with the excitement of new classes, friends, and activities, there's another less welcomed aspect of the back-to-school season: the resurgence of respiratory illnesses. This uptick not only affects families but also poses a significant risk to dental lab and dental practice workers who are in close contact with patients and each other.

As children return to school, they may unknowingly bring home a plethora of germs, putting dental pros at a heightened risk of contracting respiratory illnesses. Given the up-close-and-personal nature of dental work near patients' respiratory tracts, it's vital for dental practices to step up their health and safety game. Additionally, dental lab workers, who handle cases that have been in patients’ mouths and perform shade verification and chairside services must also prioritize infection control practices to help ensure a safe environment. With a nationwide surge in these infections already underway, the back-to-school season could present an even greater challenge for dental workers.

What illnesses are we talking about? 

COVID-19, the ongoing surge of COVID-19 nationwide is being driven by a group of highly infectious subvariants, making them some of the most contagious strains seen since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. COVID-19 continues to primarily affect the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. However, individuals have also reported experiencing additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, brain fog, and headaches.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can lead to mild to severe illness and, in some cases, can be life-threatening. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Influenza can spread rapidly in communities and is a leading cause of illness, hospitalizations, and, tragically, deaths each year, particularly among vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions.

RSV, another prominent respiratory virus, primarily affects young children and infants. It can cause mild, cold-like symptoms, but in some cases, especially in infants and older adults, RSV can lead to more severe respiratory infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV is highly contagious and can spread rapidly in workplace settings or wherever people congregate. 

Other respiratory infections such as the common cold, adenoviruses, and human metapneumovirus contribute to the burden of respiratory illnesses. These viruses share common modes of transmission, primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Close contact with infected individuals or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face can also lead to transmission.

How can we prevent infections from occurring?

Here are some valuable tips for dental labs and dental practices to maintain a safe and healthy environment as we approach the upcoming school year:

Hand Hygiene: Make sure your staff is on top of their handwashing game by emphasizing the importance of regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Provide hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol in common areas and treatment rooms. Remember hand hygiene is the cornerstone to infection control. So don't forget:

- Wash your hands before and after treating each patient or handling dental cases, regardless of whether gloves are worn.

- After removing gloves, immediately practice hand hygiene to prevent any potential contamination.

- Prior to and after handling instruments and equipment, ensure your hands are clean.

- After coming into contact with contaminated surfaces in the patient care area, remember to wash your hands.

- Before and after eating, drinking, or handling food, wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs.

- After using the restroom, eliminate any potential pathogens by practicing hand hygiene.

- Following coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose, wash your hands to remove any transferred germs from the respiratory tract.

Vaccinations: Discuss the importance of vaccines with all staff members and encourage them to consider the seasonal flu vaccine and any recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Vaccinated employees are less likely to contract and spread respiratory illnesses.

PPE Protocols: Maintain strict adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines. 

Healthy Workplace Habits: Maintain a strong immune system through healthy lifestyle choices, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep, can bolster the body's defenses against respiratory infections. Practicing good respiratory hygiene in everyday life, such as covering coughs and sneezes and avoiding close contact with individuals who are sick, also contributes to minimizing the transmission of viruses. Encourage employees to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing, and to avoid touching their faces. Provide training on the importance of these habits in preventing the spread of germs.

Workplace Cleanliness: Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, instruments, and equipment. Implement a routine schedule for deep cleaning to maintain a sanitary environment.

Symptom Monitoring: Conduct daily health screenings for your team, including temperature checks and symptom evaluations. Encourage staff members to prioritize their well-being by staying home if they feel under the weather or show any signs of respiratory illness, while offering flexible sick leave options to support their health and recovery.

Patient Screening: Screen patients for respiratory symptoms before appointments. Consider rescheduling non-urgent procedures for those who show signs of illness to protect staff and other patients. It is important to note that dental healthcare workers are also at increased risk for coming in contact with infected individuals and must have strong respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette prevention measures in place to limit the transmission of respiratory pathogens spread by droplet or airborne routes.

What do we do if we are sick? 

Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause. It's crucial to prioritize the health and safety of not only yourself but also those around you by following this guideline. By isolating yourself when experiencing symptoms of respiratory illnesses, you can help prevent the spread of potentially harmful viruses to your family, team, and the general public. Additionally, seeking medical advice and getting tested if necessary can provide clarity on your condition and ensure that you receive the appropriate care. Remember, taking proactive measures during times of illness is a responsible and considerate action that can make a significant impact in controlling the transmission of respiratory infections.

Be proactive and stay informed! 

During this back-to-school season, it's important to stay proactive in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses. By prioritizing good hygiene habits, keeping up with vaccinations, following PPE guidelines, and upholding cleanliness in the workplace, dental labs and practices can create a safer and healthier environment for both their team and patients.

It is essential for employers to stay informed about local public health guidelines and recommendations. Monitoring updates from reliable sources and adhering to guidance from healthcare authorities can help mitigate the impact of respiratory viruses. The surge in respiratory illness calls for a collective commitment to safeguarding individual and community well-being.  Also, the CDC is posting updates on respiratory viruses every week; for the latest information, please visit CDC Respiratory Virus Updates.

Let's work together to make this school year not only successful but also safe for everyone in the dental community! Reach out to SafeLink Consulting for help with a respiratory protection program and more.