In data presented at IDWeek 2020, a team of investigators reported a 85% associated reduction in NVHAP infection in an 800-bed tertiary medical center through 12 months among patients given American Dental Association (ADA)-protocol oral care from nurses and nursing assistants, versus those provided standard care The findings, presented by Karen Giuliano, PhD, associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, complements growing evidence that both medical and surgical patients could be at reduced risk of NVHAP-the most common hospital-acquired infection-through simple efforts to reduce mouth-based germs Dentists Face Difficulties in Recruiting Dental Team Members During Recovery Roughly one-third of dental practices are recruiting dental assistants and one-quarter are recruiting hygienists, but dentists indicate that recruitment has been challenging, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute's latest data from a poll conducted the week of Oct 5 ADA Supports Point of Care COVID-19 Testing by Dentists According to a new policy from the American Dental Association (ADA), point of care testing to screen patients for chronic diseases and other medical conditions, including COVID-19, that could complicate dental care or put the patient and dental staff at risk is within a dentist's scope of practice
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