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| Year : 2011 | Volume
: 9
| Issue : 18 | Page : 508-513 |
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Contamination of aprons and protective effect of mouth masks of dental students in clinical setting
V Chandrasekhara Reddy1, Navin Anand Ingle2, Preetha Elizabeth Chaly3, V Indra Priyadarshni4
1 Associate Professor, Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India
2 Professor and Head, Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India
3 Professor, Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India
4 P.G. Student, Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, India
Correspondence Address:
V Chandrasekhara Reddy
Associate Professor, Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
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Introduction: The personal protective equipments like Doctor's apron & Mouth mask can serve asa potential source of cross-contamination. Aim: To assess the risk of spread of nosocomial infections from contaminated aprons and protectionprovided by face masks of dental post-graduate students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 25 Post-graduate students who were givendisposable surgical sterile aprons and masks at the starting of the working day (9.00 am) and asked tocontinue their regular clinical work. A mannikin which served as a control for protective effect of maskswas placed at a position opposite (2 'o' clock position) to the operator. After an exposure of 5 hours at2 pm, swabs were collected from chest area and sleeve cuff area of the aprons, inside and outside surfaceof masks worn by operator and manikin. Total CFU and the presence of potentially pathogenic andnon-pathogenic bacteria were done. Results: The mean CFU present in the chest area was more than sleeve area and high in the insidesurface of mask worn by post-graduate student and Manikin. The difference of mean CFU between insideand outside surface of manikin's mask was not significant, that is CFU is almost equal inside and outsideof the mask which indicates masks as not efficient filters of bacterial aerosols. Both gram positive &negative organism were isolated. Conclusion: The aprons are potential source of cross infection in dental setting and commonly usedmasks were found to be the least adequate filters of bacterial aerosols. |
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