AUTOCLAVE PERFORMANCE AND PRACTITIONER KNOWLEDGE OF AUTOCLAVE USE - ASURVEY OF SELECTED UK PRACTICES

Objective: It is essential that the dental surgery autoclave be tested regularly to ensure that it is operating at a temperature and pressur e that will kill all microorganisms. The aims of this study were to in vestigate the knowledge of general dental practitioners on aspects of autoclave use, to examine their autoclaving routines, and to test the effectiveness of the sterilization cycle of their practice's autoclave . Method and materials: A 35-question questionnaire was distributed to 840 dental practitioners in the United Kingdom. They were also sent t hree spore test ampules with details of their function and instruction s on their use. The practitioners were asked to use the spore test amp ules in their own practice's autoclave and to return these for testing . Results: Four hundred one questionnaires and associated spore test a mpules were returned for analysis, a 47.7% response rate. Eight practi ce autoclaves (2.0%) failed to sterilize the spores. These practices w ere offered a retest following counseling. A total of 77.8% of respond ents had received formal training in infection control. Of the 71.3% o f respondents who stated that they check the performance of their auto clave routinely, 31.5% use a chemical strip every cycle, 17.5% use it once per day, and 30.4% use it once per week, However, only five respo ndents (1.2%) use a spore test; two of these respondents use it every, cycle, one once per day, and two once per week. Conclusion: Further e ducation of practitioners may be necessary, to enhance their awareness of the need for routine checking of autoclave effectiveness.