A study of bacterial contamination level and evaluation of sterilization and disinfection procedures followed in clinical dental practices in Tishreen university


Abstract in English

The present study assessed the bacterial contamination and the efficacy of control infection protocol in clinica=l practices in Faculty of Dentistry in Tishreen university. An evaluation of surface bacterial contamination in 4 laboratory of clinical dental practices was for undergraduate stage and 4 laboratory of clinical practices for postgraduate stage. The samples for the study were taken from various sites from and beside dental-chair. The bacterial contamination was studied by observing and recording the colony morphology on the culture plates, Gram's staining with light microscopic screening of the slides, and the biochemical characterization of the isolates using standard bacteriology protocols.The findings showed bacterial contamination in all the surfaces in the laboratory of dental practices. The level of bacterial accumulation on examined surfaces did not change over time. bacteriological analysis showed that 100% of dental chair had bacterial contamination. More the 77% of collected swabs showed Gram-positive cocci, making it the major bacterial group contaminating the surfaces of dental-chair in the dental operatory. The presented study highlights the fact that all sites of dental practice is a potential source of cross infection. The results of this study mandate a strict audit process and protocols to be set in place for preventing cross-contamination from the dental chair in a dental operatory.

References used

THOMPSON EO.AIDS: today's vital challenge to dentistry. J Dent Pract Adm. 1985 Jan-Mar;2(1):2-8
DE GRAAFF J, VAN AMERONGEN WE, MULDER GR. Hygiene in dental practice. Part II: Measures to reduce the risk of contamination. ASDC J Dent Child. 1988 Jan-Feb;55(1):56-63
SAMPSON E, DHURU VB. Infection control in North American dental schools. J Dent Educ. 1989 Sep;53(9):532-7
BHANDARY N, DESAI A, SHETTY YB. High speed handpieces. J Int Oral Health. 2014 Feb;6(1):130-2. Epub 2014 Feb 26
GORDON BL, BURKE FJ, BAGG J, MARLBOROUGH HS, MCHUGH ES. Systematic review of adherence to infection control guidelines in dentistry. J Dent. 2001 Nov;29(8):509-16

Download