title: Evaluation of the risk of infection through exposure to aerosols and spatters in dentistry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many dental procedures produce extensive aerosols and splatters that are routinely contaminated with microorganisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Air containing blood-bearing aerosols and surfaces contaminated by sedimenting blood particulate was sampled in 5 different dental cubicles. To assess contamination by blood particulate, the concentration of hemoglobin (Hb) in the air and on the sedimentation surfaces was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean concentration of Hb in the air aspirated in the 5 cubicles was 0.14 +/- 0.23 microg/m(3), corresponding to a blood volume of 8.7 x 10(-4) microL/m(3). Similarly, the mean concentration of blood particulate sedimented on surfaces was calculated and found to be 1.56 microL/m(2). In 80% of the cubicles monitored, 100% positivity to the Hb determination test was recorded in all of the surface samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained revealed contamination of both air and surfaces by blood particulate. Moreover, with the exception of those obtained in 1 cubicle, all of the samples of sedimenting particulate analyzed were positive for the presence of Hb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. cristinaml@unige.it
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cristina
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sartini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dallera
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ottria
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perdelli
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D001769:Blood; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003813:Dentistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D006454:Hemoglobins; D052638:Particulate Matter