Bacteorological Analyses

Romanian Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
Vol. 5, No. 4, October - December 2013
BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF AIR (AEROMICROFLORA)

FROM THE LEVEL OF DENTAL OFFICES IN IAŞI COUNTY
E. R. Cernei1*, Dana Cristiana Maxim1, R.Mavru1, L. L. Indrei2
1
“Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Iași, Romania, Faculty of Dentistry,
Department of Pedodontics
2
“Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Iași, Romania, Faculty of Dentistry,
Department of Hygiene and Environmental Health
*Corresponding author: Cernei Eduard Radu, DMD, PhD student

“Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy
- Iași, Romania
e-mail: cerneiradu@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study This baseline study aims investigate the appreciation regarding of the microbial charge of the
air (aeromicroflora) from the treatment rooms of dental cabinets. Material and methods The method used is the
Koch sedimentation method (sedimentation only of large sized particles).The sedimentation method consisted in
the exposure on Petri dishes, of a given diameter, which contain a nutrient environment appropriate for the
bacteria whose presence and density we wished to assess. The appreciation of the degree of bacterial
contamination of the air (microaeroflora) was conducted by means of the contamination bacteriological
indicators (TGN incubated at 370C, hemolytic streptococci, staphylococci and coliforms). Results It can be
noticed that in school/university dental cabinets there is a high bacterial density, the air being charged with
human origin flora, pathogen or conditionally pathogen bacteria being potentially present. Conclusions The
presence of conditionally pathogen bacteria in the environment of school/university dental cabinets
constitutes a higher risk than their presence in the dental cabinets for adults, due to the incomplete
development and maturity of the young, whose receptivity to infection is higher.
Key words: bacteriological analysis, dental offices, koch sedimentation
INTRODUCTION digestive tract. The survival of pathogenic

The bacteriological analysis of air microorganisms depends on their resistance
(aeromicroflora) at the level of dental in the outer environment, on the nature of the
cabinets is of a sanitary order, allowing object and the environmental conditions
characterization from a hygienic point of [2,3,4]. The environmental conditions which
view, the environment’s potential as well as favor the survival of microorganisms are
the quality of cleaning, disinfection, especially represented by the absence of light,
ventilation, etc. carried out at the level of the particularly of direct solar radiations, high
cabinets [1]. The aerogenic contamination can humidity and low temperature.
be done with pathogenic agents coming from
the patients or healthy carriers from the MATERIAL AND METHODS
nasal/pharynx flora, oral cavity and/or The investigation regarding the
bronchial secretion, from the skin and the appreciation of the microbial charge of the air
53
(aeromicroflora) (fig. 1) from the treatment environment appropriate for the bacteria
rooms of dental cabinets was carried out for whose presence and density we wished to
each type of dental cabinet (5 private and 5 assess.
school/university dental cabinets). The The appreciation of the degree of bacterial
method used is the Koch sedimentation contamination of the air (microaeroflora) was
method (sedimentation only of large sized conducted by means of the contamination
particles) [5]. The sedimentation method bacteriological indicators s-a (TGN incubated
consisted in the exposure on Petri dishes, of a at 370C, hemolytic streptococci,
given diameter, which contain a nutrient staphylococci and coliforms).
Figure 1. Petri sites with colonies of germs
The Petri dishes were exposed in various n = number of colonies developed on the
locations in the room, the exposure time surface of the culture medium
being of 5 minutes for the nutrient agar S = the surface of Petri dish
(simple for TGN, blood for the T = exposure time (in minutes)
streptococcus) and of 1 hour for the medium The determination of the total germs
Chapman hyperchlore (staphylococcus) and number (TGN) in the air, developed at 370C
MC Conkey or DCA (deoxycholate Agar) (mesophilic flora) consists in the fact that it
(for E. Coli)). After the exposure the dishes allows us to appreciate the degree in which
were incubated in the thermostat at 370C, for the air is charged with flora of human origin.
24h. Subsequent measurements of total flora The indication, although of a very global
and species identification were conducted nature, allows appreciations on the sanitary
next. conditions in a room (agglomeration,
For the expression of the unit of air ventilation, cleanliness), which influence the
volume we used the Omeliansky calculus transmissions of air-borne infections.[7,8]
formula [6], which is based on the Hemolytic streptococci are considered
observation that within 5 minutes the germs indicators of air contamination with
of 10l of air are deposited on a surface of 100 nasal/pharynx and oral flora. The significance
cm2. of the presence of these germs in the air
The calculus formula is : resides in the fact that most air-borne
n / 10.000 infections are triggered by pathogenic agents
Number of germs /m3 air =
eliminated by drops of nasal/pharynx,
Sx T
5 salivary and bronchial secretion.
in which : Staphylococci are present both in the
54
upper respiratory tracts and the human skin indicator used for the characterization of the
surface. Their resistance in the air is relatively hygienic-sanitary conditions in pediatric
high, constantly contamination man’s life sanitary units.
environment. Their significance is close to
that of mesophilic microorganisms, indicating RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
more precisely the human or animal origin of The results of air bacterial contamination
air contamination. (aeromicroflora) regarding the TGN indicator
The presence in the air of the germs from incubated at 370C at the level of the 5 private
the coliform group is translated by a high dental presented the following values (fig. 2;
degree of air insalubrity. It is a less common Table 1).
Figure 2. Results regarding the air contamination degree (TGN)
Table 1. Total germ number/mc of air at the level of the 5 private dental cabinets
Cabinet no. Number of germs/mc air
Cabinet 1 468 bacteria/mc air – 6 colonies
Cabinet 5 468 bacteria /mc air – 6 colonies
MAC=500 bacteria/mc air
*MAC-maximum admitted concentration
Figure 3. Microaeroflora at 370C- private dental cabinets
55
From the figure it can be noticed that the with no risk of bacterial infections (fig 3).
MAC value is in excess at a single private With regard to the degree of air
dental cabinet. We can assert that the contamination at the level of
hygienic/sanitary conditions at the level of the school/university dental cabinets under
private dental cabinets investigates are investigation, the values of the TGN indicator
proper, except for one cabinet, the air at the incubated at 370C presented the following
level of the 4 cabinets being free of human values (Table 2).
origin flora, bacterial density being limited,
Table 2. Total germ number at the level of the 5 school/university dental cabinets
Cabinet no. Number of germs/mc air
MAC=500 bacteria/mc air
*MAC-maximum admitted concentration
Figure 4. Microaeroflora at 370C – school/university dental cabinets
Results show that 4 of the ages), an aspect whish results from the filling
school/university dental cabinets registered in of the verification sheet of
excessive MAC values of the TGN indicator hygienic/sanitary conditions. These people
incubated at 370C ( fig. 4). raise the dust in the room which, once in the
It can be noticed that in school/university air, increases total air flora, as
dental cabinets there is a high bacterial microorganisms adhere to the surface of the
density, the air being charged with human dust particles [9,10,11,12].
origin flora, pathogen or conditionally Another explanation can be related to the
pathogen bacteria being potentially present. hygienic/sanitary surveillance of dental
The explanation could be the large cabinets. The current situation reflects the
affluence of patients (pupils and students) at fact that cleaning, ventilation, disinfection
the level of school/university dental cabinets measures, the supply with cleaning and
(cavities being a frequent condition at young disinfection substances, including compliance
56
with procedures are inefficient.. In the samples taken from the air of the
Taking into account the fact that at the school/university dental cabinets there were
level of school/university dental cabinets the present conditionally pathogen bacteria from
study assessed excess values of the allowed the species hemolytic streptococcus and
hygienic/sanitary limits, air having a high pathogen staphylococcus at a number of 4
bacterial density, with potential pathogen and cabinets, indicating an air-borne
non-pathogen bacteria, at these cabinets contamination through drops of
qualitative measurements were also carried nasal/pharynx, salivary and bronchial
out regarding the identification of microbial secretion, as well as from the surface of
species present in the air, in order to identify human skin. Absence of germs for the
the sanitary indicators: hemolytic coliform group proves that there isn’t a high
streptococcus, coliform bacteria and the degree of insalubrity of the environment, the
pathogen staphylococcus. values being shown in table 3.
Table 3. Microorganisms present in the air of school/university dental cabinets

Sample Collection TGN Hemolytic Coliform Pathogen
no. points strptococcus staphylococcus
1 Cabinet 1 1014 0 0 present
5 Cabinet 5 390 16 0 absent
It can be asserted that conditionally assessed no deficiencies concerning the

pathogen microbial flora is present in all degree of air microbial contamination, a
school/university cabinets, which requires a single cabinet showing excess values of MAC
higher degree of hygienization. at the TGN indicator.
The presence of conditionally pathogen
CONCLUSIONS bacteria in the environment of
At the level of school/university dental school/university dental cabinets constitutes a
cabinets the study assessed deficiencies higher risk than their presence in the dental
regarding the evaluation of air microbial cabinets for adults, due to the incomplete
charge through the bacteriological development and maturity of the young,
contamination indicators, registering excess whose receptivity to infection is higher [13].
MAC values at the TGN indicator incubated The main purpose of the hygienic-sanitary
at 370C, as well as the presence of conditions optimization is to increase
conditionally pathogen bacteria from the awareness on the problems related to health,
species hemolytic streptococcus and pathogen safety and environment and the way they may
staphylococcus at 4 out of the 5 affect patients and the personnel of the
school/university cabinets investigated. At the sanitary unit in their day-to-day work.
level of private dental cabinets the study
57
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58

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Bacteorological Analyses

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Romanian Journal of Oral Rehabilitation

Vol. 5, No. 4, October - December 2013

BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF AIR (AEROMICROFLORA)

*Corresponding author: Cernei Eduard Radu, DMD, PhD student

Key words: bacteriological analysis, dental offices, koch sedimentation

INTRODUCTION digestive tract. The survival of pathogenic

Figure 1. Petri sites with colonies of germs

Figure 2. Results regarding the air contamination degree (TGN)

Figure 3. Microaeroflora at 370C- private dental cabinets

Figure 4. Microaeroflora at 370C – school/university dental cabinets

Table 3. Microorganisms present in the air of school/university dental cabinets

It can be asserted that conditionally assessed no deficiencies concerning the

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