{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T22:56:40Z","timestamp":1785884200396,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773014400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: This study evaluates the level of knowledge among dental students regarding infection prevention and control measures in dental practice. Methods: A total of 225 students from the Medical University of Plovdiv participated in an anonymous survey between November 2024 and March 2025. The survey assessed knowledge about epidemiological factors, disinfection protocols, and procedures for infection prevention and control. Results: The survey results revealed that while most students demonstrated a high level of knowledge of the importance of protective equipment and impression disinfection, a few students reported incorrect or inconsistent practices. Gender differences were observed in adherence to disinfection procedures. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for enhanced training in infection control within dental curricula to ensure safe clinical practice and minimize cross-infection risks.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj14030153","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T08:58:45Z","timestamp":1773046725000},"page":"153","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Survey on Dental Students\u2019 Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control Rules"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6239-4418","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Velina","family":"Stoeva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Medical University, Bulevard Vasil Aprilov 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9814-2127","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tsonka","family":"Miteva-Katrandzhieva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Medical University, Bulevard Vasil Aprilov 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Shamsee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dental Faculty, Medical University Plovdiv, Vasil Aprilov 15A, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1311","DOI":"10.1086\/513435","article-title":"Patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis B virus associated with oral surgery","volume":"195","author":"Redd","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1110","DOI":"10.14219\/jada.archive.2013.0029","article-title":"Hepatitis B virus transmissions associated with a portable dental clinic, West Virginia, 2009","volume":"144","author":"Radcliffe","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Am. Dent. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Upendran, A., Gupta, R., and Geiger, Z. (2025, October 10). Dental Infection Control, StatPearls, Available online: https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29261939\/."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102153","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jksus.2022.102153","article-title":"Prevalence and investigations of bacterial contamination in dental healthcare associated environment","volume":"34","author":"Abusalim","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. King Saud Univ. Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1192","DOI":"10.1177\/0022034520940288","article-title":"Modeling of the Transmission of Coronaviruses, Measles Virus, Influenza Virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Legionella pneumophila in Dental Clinics","volume":"99","author":"Zemouri","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Dent. Res."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ueda, A., Shinoda-Ito, Y., Takeuchi-Hatanaka, K., Ito, T., Ono, S., Hirai, K., Omori, K., Yamamoto, T., and Takashiba, S. (2025). Establishment of a rapid and quantitative method for detecting the range of infection exposure in preclinical dental education. BMC Oral Health, 25.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-025-05584-4"},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control Prevention (2025, September 10). Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/dental-infection-control\/hcp\/summary\/standard-precautions.html."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.55640\/ijmsdh-11-02-09","article-title":"Knowledge and Practice on Disinfection of Dental Impressions Among Dentists and Dental Technicians","volume":"11","author":"Sulaiman","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Med. Sci. Dent. Health"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"337","article-title":"Cross-contamination control in prosthodontic practice","volume":"4","author":"Connor","year":"1991","journal-title":"Int. J. Prosthodont."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"407","DOI":"10.1086\/647840","article-title":"Guideline for infection control in healthcare personnel, 1998","volume":"19","author":"Bolyard","year":"1998","journal-title":"Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"78","article-title":"Microbiological contamination control in hospitals. 1. Perspectives","volume":"43","author":"Greene","year":"1969","journal-title":"Hospitals"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"786","DOI":"10.14219\/jada.archive.2000.0278","article-title":"Disinfection and communication practices: A survey of U.S. Dental laboratories","volume":"131","author":"Kugel","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Am. Dent. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"e30566","article-title":"Chlorhexidine as a Disinfectant in the Prosthodontic Practice: A Comprehensive Review","volume":"14","author":"Alqarni","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hardan, L., Bourgi, R., Cuevas-Su\u00e1rez, C.E., Lukomska-Szymanska, M., Cornejo-R\u00edos, E., Tosco, V., Monterubbianesi, R., Mancino, S., Eid, A., and Mancino, D. (2022). Disinfection Procedures and Their Effect on the Microorganism Colonization of Dental Impression Materials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of In Vitro Studies. Bioengineering, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering9030123"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12812","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.12812","article-title":"Dimensional changes of commercial and novel polyvinyl siloxane impression materials following sodium hypochlorite disinfection","volume":"10","author":"Sajid","year":"2022","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Awod Bin Hassan, S., Ali FAlshadidi, A., Ibrahim NAldosari, L., Heboyan, A., and SSaini, R. (2023). Effect of chemical disinfection on the dimensional stability of polyvinyl ether siloxane impression material: A systemic review and meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health, 23.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-023-03168-8"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wezgowiec, J., Paradowska-Stolarz, A., Malysa, A., Orzeszek, S., Seweryn, P., and Wieckiewicz, M. (2022). Effects of Various Disinfection Methods on the Material Properties of Silicone Dental Impressions of Different Types and Viscosities. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms231810859"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1590\/S0103-64402009000300009","article-title":"Attitudes and behavior of dental students concerning infection control rules: A study with a10-year interval","volume":"20","author":"Abreu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Braz. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.2147\/CCIDE.S261171","article-title":"Practices of Infection Control Among Dental Care Providers: A Cross Sectional Study","volume":"2020","author":"Mahasneh","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dent."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"213","article-title":"Assessing cross infection prevention measures at the Dental Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan","volume":"31","author":"Taiwo","year":"2002","journal-title":"Afr. J. Med. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.25259\/JADPR_15_2022","article-title":"Hepatitis B and C infection among dentists\u2014Risk, prevention, and management","volume":"1","author":"Sheikh","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Adv. Dent. Pract. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1478-3231.2008.01947.x","article-title":"Hepatitis B and hepatitis C in 2009","volume":"29","author":"Marcellin","year":"2009","journal-title":"Liver Int."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, September 09). Hepatitis B Fact Sheets, Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/hepatitis-b."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"8","article-title":"Prevention of hepatitis B; knowledge and practices among medical students","volume":"2","author":"Singh","year":"2011","journal-title":"Healthline"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"598","DOI":"10.31729\/jnma.3582","article-title":"Awareness of Infection Control among Dental Students and Interns","volume":"56","author":"Ghimire","year":"2018","journal-title":"JNMA J. Nepal Med. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marji, T., and Syed, M.A. (2022). Primary care dental professionals\u2019 experiences of sharp injuries in Qatar: A cross-sectional study. Front. Oral Health, 3.","DOI":"10.3389\/froh.2022.1014004"},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Ministry of Health, Republic of Bulgaria (2025, August 19). Immunization Calendar 2025, Available online: https:\/\/www.vaksinite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/imunizatsionen-kalendar-2025.pdf."}],"container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/14\/3\/153\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T09:30:24Z","timestamp":1773048624000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/14\/3\/153"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]}},"alternative-id":["dj14030153"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/dj14030153","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-6767"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2304-6767","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]]}}}