Biosafety measures against COVID-19 applied in the care of maxillofacial emergencies

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease. Maxillofacial procedure in service implies frequent exposure to patients’ saliva, blood and other fluids, so there is a risk of nosocomial infection. Objective: to expouse an updated view concerning the biosafety measures against COVID-19 applied in the care of maxillofacial emergencies. Method: a bibliographic review was carried out in April 2021. Mainly journals indexed to the Web of Science was assessed. All publications included were in both language, English and Spanish, and updated (2020 and 2021). It was used descriptors like: pandemics, coronavirus infections, biosecurity. Results: coronavirus disease 2019, was declared as pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Direct transmission occurs via respiratory route, while indirect transmission requires contact of oral, nasal or ocular mucosa with contaminated surfaces. In the maxillofacial emergency treatments, close contacts with patients and their saliva puts the staff in service at high risk of cross-infection. Biosecurity measures are highly necessary to reduce the virus circulation and avoid cross-infection between patients and physicians, thus providing a safety environment for patients and health professionals. Conclusions: it is highly necessary that the maxillofacial surgeons be updated and put into practice all current and emerging evidence-based biosafety measures. Up to now, these are the only tools to ensure the protection of medical personnel and patients.

Keywords

• pandemias
• bioseguridad
• cirugía maxilofacial
• urgencias