A microbiological environmental investigation was carried out in ten dental clinics in Italy. Microbial contam- ination 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 activ- ity, microbial water contamination in tap water reached 51,200 cfu/mL (colony forming units per milliliter), and that in Dental Unit Water Systems (DUWSs) reached 872,000 cfu/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 (pb0.05). 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 em- phasizes the need for research aimed at defining effective managing strategies for dental clinics.

Microbial environmental contamination in Italian dental clinics: a multicentre study yelding recommendations for standardized sampling methods and threshold values / Pasquarella, Cesira Isabella Maria; Veronesi, Licia; Napoli, C; Castiglia, P; Liguori, G; Rizzetto, R; Torre, I; Righi, E; Farruggia, P; Tesauro, M; Torregrossa, V; Montagna, Mt; Colucci, Maria Eugenia; Gallè, F; Masia, Md; Strohmenger, L; Bergomi, M; Tinteri, C; Panico, M; Pennino, F; Cannova, L; Tanzi, Maria Luisa; SitI Working Group Hygiene in, Dentistry. - In: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. - ISSN 0048-9697. - 420:(2012), pp. 289-299.

Microbial environmental contamination in Italian dental clinics: a multicentre study yelding recommendations for standardized sampling methods and threshold values.

PASQUARELLA, Cesira Isabella Maria;VERONESI, Licia;COLUCCI, Maria Eugenia;TANZI, Maria Luisa;
2012-01-01

Abstract

A microbiological environmental investigation was carried out in ten dental clinics in Italy. Microbial contam- ination 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 activ- ity, microbial water contamination in tap water reached 51,200 cfu/mL (colony forming units per milliliter), and that in Dental Unit Water Systems (DUWSs) reached 872,000 cfu/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 (pb0.05). 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 em- phasizes the need for research aimed at defining effective managing strategies for dental clinics.
2012
Microbial environmental contamination in Italian dental clinics: a multicentre study yelding recommendations for standardized sampling methods and threshold values / Pasquarella, Cesira Isabella Maria; Veronesi, Licia; Napoli, C; Castiglia, P; Liguori, G; Rizzetto, R; Torre, I; Righi, E; Farruggia, P; Tesauro, M; Torregrossa, V; Montagna, Mt; Colucci, Maria Eugenia; Gallè, F; Masia, Md; Strohmenger, L; Bergomi, M; Tinteri, C; Panico, M; Pennino, F; Cannova, L; Tanzi, Maria Luisa; SitI Working Group Hygiene in, Dentistry. - In: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. - ISSN 0048-9697. - 420:(2012), pp. 289-299.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2398757
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