6533b7d1fe1ef96bd125d91f
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Microbial environmental contamination in Italian dental clinics: A multicenter study yielding recommendations for standardized sampling methods and threshold values.
C. PasquarellaL. VeronesiC. NapoliP. CastigliaG. LiguoriRolando RizzettoI. TorreE. RighiP. FarruggiaM. TesauroM. V. TorregrossaM. T. MontagnaM. E. ColucciF. GallèM. D. MasiaL. StrohmengerM. BergomiCarola TinteriM. PanicoF. PenninoL. CannovaM. TanziS. I. Workingsubject
Environmental EngineeringairLegionellawaterAir MicrobiologyDentistryTotal Viable CountsurfacesDental Equipmentdental unit water systemToxicologyTap waterEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental ChemistryMedicineHumansThreshold Limit ValuesWaste Management and DisposalAir Microbiology Dental Clinics Dental Equipment; microbiology Environmental Monitoring; standards Equipment Contamination Humans Italy Threshold Limit Values Water Microbiologybiologybusiness.industryDental ClinicsDental EquipmentmicrobiologyDental Equipment; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Italy; Threshold Limit Values; Air Microbiology; Dental Clinics; Equipment Contamination; Water MicrobiologyLiterContaminationdental clinic; microbiological contanimation; dental unit water system; air; surfaces; watermicrobiological contanimationbiology.organism_classificationPollutionItalyEquipment ContaminationstandardsEquipment Contaminationdental clinicbusinessWater MicrobiologyEnvironmental Monitoringdescription
A microbiological environmental investigation was carried out in ten dental clinics in Italy. Microbial contamination of water, air and surfaces was assessed in each clinic during the five working days, for one week per month, for a three-month period. Water and surfaces were sampled before and after clinical activity; air was sampled before, after, and during clinical activity. A wide variation was found in microbial environmental contamination, both within the participating clinics and for the different sampling times. Before clinical activity, microbial water contamination in tap water reached 51,200cfu/mL (colony forming units per milliliter), and that in Dental Unit Water Systems (DUWSs) reached 872,000cfu/mL. After clinical activity, there was a significant decrease in the Total Viable Count (TVC) in tap water and in DUWSs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in 2.38% (7/294) of tap water samples and in 20.06% (59/294) of DUWS samples; Legionella spp. was found in 29.96% (89/297) of tap water samples and 15.82% (47/297) of DUWS samples, with no significant difference between pre- and post-clinical activity. Microbial air contamination was highest during dental treatments, and decreased significantly at the end of the working activity (p<0.05). The microbial buildup on surfaces increased significantly during the working hours. This study provides data for the establishment of standardized sampling methods, and threshold values for contamination monitoring in dentistry. Some very critical situations have been observed which require urgent intervention. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need for research aimed at defining effective managing strategies for dental clinics.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-01-01 |