The U.S. has dealt with several public health challenges — including RSV, mpox and the flu — while still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As patients and practices dealt with these challenges, the dental industry also faced other threats, such as spreading bacteria in water lines.
Here are 12 infection control updates that took place in 2022, starting with the most recent:
1. Nearly 20,000 people were hospitalized with flu during the week of Thanksgiving, marking a nearly 74 percent increase from the week prior and the highest figure seen that early in the flu season in a decade.
2. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in December that the Biden administration does not anticipate that it needs to renew the public health emergency declaration for mpox, or monkeypox, when it ends on Jan. 31.
3. The CDC issued a health advisory Oct. 31 warning of a bacteria in dental waterlines after recent infections were linked to a pediatric dental office.
4. The Illinois State Dental Society asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker in October to update the state's COVID-19 protocols for healthcare facilities to be in line with changes made by the CDC.
5. HHS amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act declaration Oct. 3 to allow dentists and dental students to administer mpox, smallpox and other orthopoxviruses vaccines to patients in a declared emergency.
6. Infectious disease experts from Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network called on dentists in August to watch out for oral lesions caused by mpox as the number of cases rises in the U.S.
7. A survey conducted by the ADA in March found that two-thirds of dentists continued to require masks in their offices for patients and staff.
8. The CDC launched an app March 21 to help ensure dental practices are meeting infection control standards.
9. The CDC updated its infection control and prevention measures for oral healthcare providers Feb. 8 and eased indoor mask guidance for the general public Feb. 25.
10. HHS' COVID-19 Uninsured Program stopped accepting claims for COVID-19 testing and treatment in March because of a lack of sufficient funds, which one healthcare executive said could lead to cuts in dental program funding to make up the costs.
11. Orange, Calif.-based Western Dental partnered with the NFL Alumni Association-Southern California Chapter, Walgreens and Water and Power Community Credit Union to offer free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and COVID-19 antigen testing before Super Bowl LVI.
12. The first Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control certifications were given to a group of oral healthcare professionals in January.