Due to imperfect infection control techniques a dentist infected with HIV was charged for the apparent transmittal of the virus to his patients but new studies found evidence contradicting this claim. The findings from this case completely oppose the findings that resulted from an earlier case similar to this one where the dentist was actually guilty of transmitting HIV.
With the help of DNA sequencing federal centers and the health department were able to analyze what kind of HIV strain affected the dentist. The DNA from the HIV strain of the dentist was completely different from the strains found to have infected his patients.
Because of the DNA sequencing they were also able to determine that the patients did not get the virus from one another and with regard to the dental implements they also had no part in the infections. With a better understanding of what actually happened the case heads to a new direction. Mandatory health assessment exams for physicians should be the least of a patient’s worries as this study proves how low the risk of getting a virus from a dentist is.
Before she died one of the six patients that contracted HIV from the first dentist saw to it that mandatory health assessment exams will be implemented for physicians. Part of his 30 year medical experience was used for the benefit of AIDS stricken indigents as the second dentist worked with these people. Testing positive for HIV himself the dentist passed away after three years.
During the last five years that he treated patients he served quite a number of people and 19% of them got tested for HIV with 24 contracting the virus. HIV was also able to reach four more of his earlier patients. People who have HIV usually develop behavioral risks and the study of the 28 patients delivered the results informing that 24 out of the 28 are susceptible. Through DNA sequencing more evidence that disputes the claim that the strain of HIV from the dentist infected the patients who tested positive for the virus were found.
If the dentist had been the source of infection to some of his patients, we would expect their viruses to look very similar. Findings resulted to a number of different strains of the virus and this means that each one of them was infected by independent sources. The researchers did not disregard the possibility of contraction from dental implements that may have been in contact with blood or tissue.
A patient dying will always come as a shock but according to AIDS experts having new explanations may help people overcome their fear with regard to the dental field. A lot of good news has been pouring out of the center for disease control and new developments are seen by those at the HIV sequence database and analysis project as factors which can bolster their hard work. Even if the quasi governmental organization is doing their best to isolate a string of HIV strains they admit that it is not impossible for a case like this to present itself yet again now that there are still no signs of the HIV epidemic slowing down. A campaign for safe practices was developed by the American dental profession and research like this one will definitely support their efforts.
The resolution of this case marks the numerous changes expected for the dental field in the coming years starting with drastic measures being taken for infection control. According to one of the prosecution lawyers any patient should not be put in a precarious situation following potential health risks from physicians and so he strongly advises against removing mandatory health checks. Despite how HIV was transmitted by the dentist to his patients fault should be placed on public health services as they failed to fulfill their obligation to safeguard medical patients.
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