Cross Infection in Dentistry and the Dental Aerosols –A Potential Health Hazard

Anjum, Angabeen

doi:10.36283/pjmd9-3/014

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Strict aseptic principles need to be incorporated into clinical practice in order to reduce microbial cross-contamination. For minimizing cross-contamination, different materials and procedures are recommended, such as the use of personal protective barriers, decontamination of surfaces, immunization of dental staff, sterilization of instruments, and pre-procedural mouthwashes [ 9 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sterilization of New Endodontic Hand Files Stored in Dental Office Inventory: An In Vitro Study

LR¹,

Nirmala²,

Reddy³

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Background and objectiveEndodontic files, as supplied by the manufacturers to the endodontists, are not pre-sterile routinely. For both new and used equipment, rotary as well as manual, autoclaving is the standard sterilization protocol used in clinical and academic practice. In dentistry, instrument sterilization aims to safeguard patients from cross-contamination through instruments. Hence, every device should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of various microorganisms in sealed and unsealed stored packs in dental offices and the probable impact of pre-sterilization procedures on the survival of these microorganisms. Materials and methodsTwo groups of root canal files varying in their packing method, boxes (Mani stainless steel K-files, ISO 25, length 25 mm) and blister packs (UGD, ISO 25, length 25 mm), pre-sterile, opened/unopened were chosen and stored for about two weeks in the dental office and were classified into three groups based on their storage and further classified into subgroups depending on their packing modes as follows: Group-1 (unopened and stored in shelf for two weeks), Subgroup-1A (boxes), Subgroup-1B (blister packs); Group-2 (unopened and stored on the countertop for two weeks), Subgroup-2A (boxes), Subgroup-2B (blister packs); Group-3 (opened and stored on the countertop for two weeks). After two weeks of storage, a set of three new files from each pack, both boxes and blisters, were placed in the nutrient broth to assess the turbidity and later cultured to assess the presence/absence and type of any bacterial growth. All the instruments in the three groups and subgroups were placed separately in the nutrient broth and carried to the microbiology lab for bacterial cultures. The entire procedure was carried out under the laminar flow. All these files in the nutrient broth were incubated for about 72 hours and the turbidity was assessed, and then the turbid bacteria were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates for the presence/absence and the type of bacteria in each group and subgroups. ResultsAll specimens, both opened/unopened boxes and blister packs, after about two weeks of storage, were cultured and observed for contamination. All the tested files groups showed bacterial culture growth both on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. Group-1 (Subgroups 1A, 1B) boxes and blister packs unopened and stored on the shelf for two weeks demonstrated aerobic spore bacilli; Group-2 (Subgroups 2A, 2B) boxes and blister packs unopened and stored on the countertop for two weeks demonstrated Gram-positive bacilli; Group-3 opened boxes and blisters stored on the countertop for two weeks demonstrated Micrococci and Gram-negative bacilli. ConclusionIn the present study, all the packs, blisters and boxes, demonstrated the presence of bacterial growth irrespective of their storage in the dental office. Hence, in order to prevent any new infections from the operating field, sterilization of not only the old files but also the pre-sterilization o...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sterilization of New Endodontic Hand Files Stored in Dental Office Inventory: An In Vitro Study

LR¹,

Nirmala²,

Reddy³

et al. 2023

Cureus

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“…Dental healthcare workers are professionals experiencing multiple exposures to a large range of airborne contamination [88] leading to various occupational diseases. The occupational diseases that appear as a result of indoor pollution increase due to materials and dental equipment services.…”

Section: Indoor Air Pollution In Dentistry 321 Source Of Occupational...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Air Pollution with Fine Particles and Implications for Workers’ Health in Dental Offices: A Brief Review

et al. 2021

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(1) Background: Indoor air pollution can affect the well-being and health of humans. Sources of indoor pollution with particulate matter (PM) are outdoor particles and indoor causes, such as construction materials, the use of cleaning products, air fresheners, heating, cooking, and smoking activities. In 2017, according to the Global Burden of Disease study, 1.6 million people died prematurely because of indoor air pollution. The health effects of outdoor exposure to PM have been the subject of both research and regulatory action, and indoor exposure to fine particles is gaining more and more attention as a potential source of adverse health effects. Moreover, in critical situations such as the current pandemic crisis, to protect the health of the population, patients, and staff in all areas of society (particularly in indoor environments, where there are vulnerable groups, such as people who have pre-existing lung conditions, patients, elderly people, and healthcare professionals such as dental practitioners), there is an urgent need to improve long- and short-term health. Exposure to aerosols and splatter contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and blood produced during dental procedures performed on patients rarely leads to the transmission of infectious agents between patients and dental health care staff if infection prevention procedures are strictly followed. On the other hand, in the current circumstances of the pandemic crisis, dental practitioners could have an occupational risk of acquiring coronavirus disease as they may treat asymptomatic and minimally symptomatic patients. Consequently, an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection could occur in dental offices, both for staff that provide dental healthcare and for other patients, considering that many dental procedures produce droplets and dental aerosols, which carry an infectious virus such as SARS-CoV-2. (2) Types of studies reviewed and applied methodology: The current work provides a critical review and evaluation, as well as perspectives concerning previous studies on health risks of indoor exposure to PM in dental offices. The authors reviewed representative dental medicine literature focused on sources of indoor PM10 and PM2.5 (particles for which the aerodynamic diameter size is respectively less than 10 and 2.5 μm) in indoor spaces (paying specific attention to dental offices) and their characteristics and toxicological effects in indoor microenvironments. The authors also reviewed representative studies on relations between the indoor air quality and harmful effects, as well as studies on possible indoor viral infections acquired through airborne and droplet transmission. The method employed for the research illustrated in the current paper involved a desk study of documents and records relating to occupational health problems among dental health care providers. In this way, it obtained background information on both the main potential hazards in dentistry and infection risks from aerosol transmission within dental offices. Reviewing this kind of information, especially that relating to bioaerosols, is critical for minimizing the risk to dental staff and patients, particularly when new recommendations for COVID-19 risk reduction for the dental health professional community and patients attending dental clinics are strongly needed. (3) Results: The investigated studies and reports obtained from the medical literature showed that, even if there are a wide number of studies on indoor human exposure to fine particles and health effects, more deep research and specific studies on indoor air pollution with fine particles and implications for workers’ health in dental offices are needed. As dental practices are at a higher risk for hazardous indoor air because of exposure to chemicals and microbes, the occupational exposures and diseases must be addressed, with special attention being paid to the dental staff. The literature also documents that exposure to fine particles in dental offices can be minimized by putting prevention into practice (personal protection barriers such as masks, gloves, and safety eyeglasses) and also keeping indoor air clean (e.g., high-volume evacuation, the use of an air-room-cleaning system with high-efficiency particulate filters, and regularly maintaining the air-conditioning and ventilation systems). These kinds of considerations are extremely important as the impact of indoor pollution on human health is no longer an individual issue, with its connections representing a future part of sustainability which is currently being redefined. These kinds of considerations are extremely important, and the authors believe that a better situation in dentistry needs to be developed, with researchers in materials and dental health trying to understand and explain the impact of indoor pollution on human health.

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“…The vulnerability can be analyzed by demographic characteristics, agro-meteorological facilities, water use, land use, economic policies, and socio-economic behavior investigations (Malik et al, 2012;Singh et al, 2014;Farhangfar et al, 2015;Dong et al, 2015). Pakistan lies in a geographical region among longitudes 61° and 76° E and latitudes 24° and 37° N, primarily vulnerable to and influenced by global climate variability (Anjum et al, 2012;Rasul et al, 2012). According to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pakistan is classified as a red zone of inadequacy and a stressed country because of a decrease in groundwater, limited water storage in dams, no formalized drought vulnerability assessments, and no networks for monitoring and evaluating associated vulnerability indicators (Gutiérrez et al, 2014;Abid et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Droughts have been observed every year in Tharparkar and southern Punjab due to low rains in the monsoon season. Tharparkar and Rahim Yar Khan districts are neighboring districts with similar climatic and physiographic characteristics, but more frequent drought spells have been witnessed in the history of Tharparkar as compared to Rahim Yar Khan (Anjum et al, 2012;Malik et al, 2012;Khan et al, 2015). The drought vulnerability assessment can be made by quantitatively evaluating a wide range of fuzzy and decision-making methods for drought preparedness and mitigation (Cheng et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, the respective study has been designed to evaluate the vulnerability to drought of two districts, Rahim Yar Khan and Tharparkar, by comparing agricultural, hydrological, meteorological, and infrastructural variables using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy classification of the drought vulnerability index for each criteria used in the AHP. Rahim Yar Khan partially depends upon monsoon rainfall for its irrigation of agriculture, but the dependency of Tharparkar for its annual irrigation totally depends upon the monsoon rainfall (Anjum et al, 2012;Rasul et al, 2012). Hence, the mitigation of meteorological variability was selected as criteria for the study of districts Rahim Yar Khan and Tharparkar, as both districts face climate variability each year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fuzzy comparison of drought vulnerability based on the analytical hierarchy process

Batool,

Ruba,

Ghufran

et al. 2024

Zoo Bot.

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The vulnerability represents the level to which any ecosystem experiences impairment due to natural distress. One such distress is drought, a prolonged phase of deficient rainfall that causes the depletion of water resources. The possibility of the influences of drought principally depends on the vulnerability of the affected area. The predominantly arid climate of Pakistan and the dependence of its economy on agriculture make it vulnerable to climate change. Rahim Yar Khan and Tharparkar have similar environmental conditions, but Tharparkar experiences more droughts. Vulnerability factors observed by the two districts among the regions are different even with similar climate conditions. The system vulnerability to drought was observed for two districts by using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and drought vulnerability index (DVI). The drought vulnerability index (DVI) was used to assess the meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic indicators to build the hierarchy for these inconsistence factors and evaluate the most vulnerable and affecting cause among the meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic indicators. The selected measures specify the hypotheses and the relativity of the indicators to the overall vulnerability of the system. The evaluated weights for each variable are derived from the analytical hierarchy process by comparing the variables of the selected indicators. Due to different meteorological, agricultural, and socio-economic conditions, the weights for the DVI were not the same in both study districts, i.e., Rahim Yar Khan and Tharparkar. The classification of vulnerability depending upon the drought vulnerability index with AHP suggests that the DV indexation is favorable in assessing the regional drought vulnerability. The drought vulnerability assessment of Tharparkar indicates that Tharparkar is highly vulnerable to drought, i.e., DVI = 0.066, as it is highly dependent on irrigation resources for its agriculture and livestock. The unavailability of hydrological resources has increased the drought vulnerability of the Tharparkar, which corresponds to a high level of agricultural damage due to droughts. However, the district of Rahim Yar Khan with developed irrigation resources has a lower drought vulnerability index (DVI = 0.011). It is necessary for Tharparkar to establish countermeasures to mitigate the drought vulnerability through the development of water resources. Future studies are needed to be focused on more indicators for assessing particular drought vulnerability issues in order to reduce the drought vulnerability of Tharparkar.

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Cross Infection in Dentistry and the Dental Aerosols –A Potential Health Hazard

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Sterilization of New Endodontic Hand Files Stored in Dental Office Inventory: An In Vitro Study

Sterilization of New Endodontic Hand Files Stored in Dental Office Inventory: An In Vitro Study

Indoor Air Pollution with Fine Particles and Implications for Workers’ Health in Dental Offices: A Brief Review

Fuzzy comparison of drought vulnerability based on the analytical hierarchy process

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