Bacterial contamination of scrub jackets during dental hygiene procedures.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess bacterial contamination of uniforms by aerosols produced during dental hygiene procedures, including examination, hand and ultrasonic scaling, and polishing.


METHODS
Sterile milipore filters were taped to long-sleeved scrub jackets of 26 senior dental hygiene students and worn during patient appointments. Filters were removed at the end of the appointment and cultured to determine bacterial contamination on the dominant arm, non-dominant arm, and chest.


RESULTS
Analysis of filter position by procedure with SPSS MANOVA showed a statistically significant difference (1.95, df = 9,299, p = .045). Univariate statistics showed that filters on the dominant arm (p = .013) and non-dominant arm (p = .030) had significantly higher colony forming unit/filter for ultrasonic scaling than for examination, while chest did not (p = .154).


CONCLUSIONS
Aerosol contamination is produced during dental hygiene procedures, even examination and hand scaling. The number of micro-organisms is higher on the sleeves than the chest of scrub jackets, and is higher when ultrasonic or sonic scalers or air polishers are used.
College of Health Professions, Wichita State University, Kansas, USA.
D E
DE
Huntley
J
J
Campbell
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000382:microbiology*
D000336:Aerosols