Results
Title

Italian multicenter study on infection hazards during dental practice: control of environmental microbial contamination in public dental surgeries.

Authors

Castiglia P; Liguori G; Montagna MT; Napoli C; Pasquarella C; Bergomi M; Fabiani L; Monarca S; Petti S; SItI Working Group Hygiene in Dentistry; Castiglia, Paolo; Liguori, Giorgio; Montagna, Maria Teresa; Napoli, Christian; Pasquarella, Cesira; Bergomi, Margherita; Fabiani, Leila; Monarca, Silvano; Petti, Stefano

Abstract

<bold>Background: </bold>The present study assessed microbial contamination in Italian dental surgeries.<bold>Methods: </bold>An evaluation of water, air and surface microbial contamination in 102 dental units was carried out in eight Italian cities.<bold>Results: </bold>The findings showed water microbial contamination in all the dental surgeries; the proportion of water samples with microbial levels above those recommended decreased during working. With regard to Legionella spp., the proportion of positive samples was 33.3%. During work activity, the index of microbial air contamination (IMA) increased. The level of microbial accumulation on examined surfaces did not change over time.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>These findings confirm that some Italian dental surgeries show high biocontamination, as in other European Countries, which highlights the risk of occupational exposure and the need to apply effective measures to reduce microbial loads.

Publication

BMC Public Health, 2008, Vol 8, Issue 1, p187

ISSN

1471-2458

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1186/1471-2458-8-187