I understand we always use standard precautions assuming that any patient may have a communicable disease. However, is it safe to use a cavitron with a patient that is HIV positive? Does a patient that is HIV positive have to premedicate prior to treatment?
The chance of contracting HIV from ultrasonic aerosols is very small. The virus is very fragile and does not live outside of the body unless it has tissue to live in.
As far as premed, I have never heard of doing that, the ADA might have that answer.
Any infectious disease as long as universal precautions are in place should be fine to use the ultrasonic/sonic/piezo. See link below and search this site for Q and A on Hep C and ultrasonic usage.
Link: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faq/aerosols.htm
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