title: Biologic monitoring and causes of failure in cycles of sterilization in dental care offices in Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biologic indicator tests (BIs) are considered the most meaningful way to verify sterilization.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To monitor the cycles of sterilization using BIs in dry heat sterilizers and steam autoclaves and to identify the causes of failures in the cycles of sterilization in dental offices in San Luis Potosí, México.
  
  
  METHODS
  An invitation to participate was sent to 400 dental offices, and 206 practitioners of 200 dental offices were included. A questionnaire was given to each of the participants, asking for the following information: sterilizer type, operational parameters used (eg, temperature, pressure, and length of exposure), frequency of sterilization cycles per day, use of BIs, and maintenance procedures of the sterilizer. Two hundred thirty sterilizers were monitored using BIs. The sterilizers with positive results were monitored a second and third time to identify the cause of the failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two percent of practitioners (n = 46) used BIs, and 17% (n = 39) of the sterilizers reported positive results (bacterial growth). The detected failures were a mistake in the procedure (eg, temperature, time, or pressure), an absence of supervision of the procedure performed by the assistant, and improper maintenance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are opportunities to increase information on infection control, to improve the adoption of standard quality control methods for sterilization as a routine process, to improve training on proper testing, and standardize processes.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Laboratory, Dental Sciences Doctorate Program, University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Electronic address: 1nuriapm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patiño-Marín
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Nanobiomaterials, Dental Sciences Doctorate Program, University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Martínez-Castañón
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Nanobiomaterials, Dental Sciences Doctorate Program, University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: Norma V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Zavala-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Area of Dentistry of the Institute of Health Sciences of the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlo E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Medina-Solís
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Laboratory, Dental Sciences Doctorate Program, University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torres-Méndez
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Laboratory, Dental Sciences Doctorate Program, University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cepeda-Argüelles
mesh_terms: D003770:Dental Offices; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008800:Mexico; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents
keywords: Autoclave; Biologic indicators; Dry heat; Infection