Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of crossinfection control measures among the patients attending Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar (SDM) dental hospital, Dharwad, India. Secondly, to identify the factors influencing knowledge and attitude of dental patients towards cross infection control measures. Study Subjects and method: A crosssectional survey was conducted among 250 individuals attending outpatient department in SDM dental hospital Dharwad, Karnataka, India. A close ended, structured, selfadministered, questionnaire consisting queries related to the knowledge, attitude towards crossinfection control measures were assessed. Frequency distribution tables, analysis of variance and scheffe’s multiple comparison tests were performed. Results: Less than 50% dental patients were aware of the spread of infection in dental clinics via saliva, blood and unsterilized/contaminated dental instruments. Over 90% said that dentist should wear gloves, and wear face mask. Seventy five percent study participants would like their dentist to change the gloves after every patient and 40.8% said that there is highly unlikely of contracting AIDS from dentist suffering with AIDS. A significant knowledge differences were observed among rural and urban study subjects with different occupational, educational and income groups. Conclusion: Dental patients considered in the present study showed poor knowledge towards spread of infection in dental hospital setting. However, adequate knowledge and positive attitudes were observed towards the use of barrier methods of infection control among dental patients. Demographic variables considered in the study showed inconsistency in knowledge of infection control.  

Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Control measures; Crossinfection.