A POSSIBLE MEANS OF INADVERTENT TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION TO DENTAL PATIENTS

¹ Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, Pa.

Despite meticulous sterilization of instruments, usually no attempt is made to sterilize other appurtenances of the dental office which are contaminated by saliva and microorganisms from the oral cavity.

Plastic pens, glass bracket tables, and metallic light handles were examined by smears and cultures at varied intervals after use. All cultures showed growth.

Examination of smears disclosed cocci, rods, thread forms, and spirochetes in that order of frequency. Cultures yielded hemolytic Staph. albus, non-hemolytic Staph. albus, Strep, viridens, E. coli, Ps. aeruginosa, Staph. aureus and B. subtilis in that order of frequency. They could be recovered 3 hours after the use of the apparatus.

Examination following application of saliva from an acute necrotizing gingivitis to the office appurtenances revealed persistence of motility for 2 hours.

A vigorous rubbing for 15 seconds with gauze saturated with a 1:1000 aqueous solution of benzalkonium chloride will remove the organisms without damage to the apparatus.

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				H. N. WILLIAMS, R. SINGH, and E. ROMBERG Surface contamination in the dental operatory: A comparison over two decades J Am Dent Assoc, March 1, 2003; 134(3): 325 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]