Bacterial aerosols in dental practice - a potential hospital infection problem?

Rate of Compliance with Hand Hygiene by Dental Healthcare Personnel (DHCP) within a Dentistry Healthcare First Aid Facility

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the compliance with the opportunities of hand hygiene by dentistry school healthcare professionals, as well as the higher choice products.

METHODS

Through direct observation, the oral healthcare team-professors, oral and maxillofacial surgery residents, graduation students-for daily care were monitored: before performing the first treatment of the shift, after snacks and meals, and after going to the bathroom (initial opportunities) as well as between patients' care, and after ending the shift (following opportunities).

RESULTS

The professors' category profited 78.4% of all opportunities while residents and graduation students did not reach 50.0% of compliance. Statistically significant data (P

CONCLUSIONS

Although gloves were worn in all procedures, we concluded that the hygiene compliance by these professionals was under the expectation.

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Key Words

• Cross-transmission
• Dentistry school
• Hand hygiene
• Infection control

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Affiliation(s)

Marcília Batista de Amorim-Finzi MSc, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia-MG, Brazil
Mauro Vieira Cezar Cury Federal University of Uberlandia, Faculty of Dentistry, Uberlandia-MG, Brazil
Cláudio Rodrigues R. Costa Federal University of Uberlandia, Faculty of Dentistry, Uberlandia-MG, Brazil
Angelis Costa dos Santos Federal University of Uberlandia, Faculty of Dentistry, Uberlandia-MG, Brazil
Geraldo Batista de Melo PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia-MG, Brazil

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Air-borne microbial contamination of surfaces in a UK dental clinic

Little is known about the number, type, or antibiotic resistance profiles, of air-borne microbes present in hospital settings yet such information is important in designing effective measures to reduce cross-infection. In this study settle plates were used to identify and quantify the air-borne microbes present in a dental clinic. All isolates were identified to species level using partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and their susceptibility to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, penicillin, tetracycline or vancomycin was performed. The mean numbers of viable bacteria detected for each sampling occasion during periods of clinical activity and in the absence of such activity were 21.9 x 10(2 )cfu/m2/h and 2.3 x 10(2 )cfu/m2/h respectively. One hundred ninety-three distinct colony morphotypes, comprising 73 species, were isolated during the study and 48% of these were resistant to at least one antibiotic. The mean numbers of different morphotypes detected per sampling occasion were 14.3 and 5 during periods of clinical activity and inactivity respectively. Propionibacterium acnes, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were frequently isolated regardless of whether any clinical activities were taking place. These findings highlight the importance of preventing surfaces from becoming reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and thereby contributing to cross-infection in the dental clinic.

Surgical mask filter and fit performance

Background

Surgical masks have been used since the early 1900s to minimize infection of surgical wounds from wearer-generated bacteria. There is ongoing debate, however, whether surgical masks can meet the expectations of respiratory protection devices. The goal of this study was to evaluate the filter performance and facial fit of a sample of surgical masks.

Methods

Filter penetration was measured for at least 3 replicates of 9 surgical masks using monodisperse latex sphere aerosols (0.895, 2.0, and 3.1 μm) at 6 L/min and 0.075-μm sodium chloride particles at 84 L/min. Facial fit was measured on 20 subjects for the 5 masks with lowest particle penetration, using both qualitative and quantitative fit tests.

Results

Masks typically used in dental settings collected particles with significantly lower efficiency than those typically used in hospital settings. All subjects failed the unassisted qualitative fit test on the first exercise (normal breathing). Eighteen subjects failed the assisted qualitative fit tests; 60% failed on the first exercise. Quantitative fit factors ranged from 2.5 to 9.6.

Conclusion

None of these surgical masks exhibited adequate filter performance and facial fit characteristics to be considered respiratory protection devices.