title: Ishmael Essay Award winner. Infection control and the extent of contamination of dental charts.
abstract: The associations between dental charts and the probability of cross-contamination were examined by swabbing contaminated charts and plating the specimens on agar medium to be analyzed. Laboratory analysis of the agar plates revealed, that out of the twenty-one charts tested, fifteen were positive for bacterial growth, therefore, contaminated charts are a viable vector for cross-contamination. Further barrier techniques need to be implemented, which in turn would decrease the contamination potential for the spread of infection.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McRay
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003470:Culture Media; D003792:Dental Records; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media