• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2015

This study studied samples taken off surfaces at three sites (Unit chairs, light handles, cuspidors) of 19 dental hospitals and 28 clinics located in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon, South Korea. The bacterial contamination levels of surfaces were $44.82{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in cuspidors, higher than in unit chairs ($5.47{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and light handles ($16.28{\times}10^3CFU/mL$). The values were statistically higher at dental hospitals than at dental clinics, the greater number of patients being associated with the higher bacterial cell count in the cuspidors. The results of identifying the strains isolated purely from surfaces at dental clinic showed Gram positive 47.3% and Gram negative 52.7%. Among Gram positive, the most numberous bacteria were Micrococcus luteus (10.9%), Bacillus pumilus (3.6%), and Staphylococcus aureus (3.6%). Among Gram negative, the most numberous bacteria were Acinetobacter ursingii (5.5%), Brevundimonas diminuta (4.5%), Chryseobacterium (Flavo.) indologenes (CDC IIb) (4.5%), and Methylobacterium sp. (4.5%). This study measures the level of bacterial contamination and identifies the strains isolated in dental clinics. It recognizes the importance of infection control, and the results of the study may be considered as the basis for establishing specific plans for prevention of infection.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.469-476
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the stains causing infections in dental clinics by analyzing bacterial contamination, as well as to suggest improvements for infection control in dental clinics. Methods: In this study, a questionnaire survey of 47 dental hospitals and clinics located in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon, South Korea was administered from June 2013 to September 2013 and used to investigate the practice rates of infection control by dental hygienists and to analyze the bacterial contamination levels in dental offices. Results: In the studied institutions, the bacterial contamination levels of water lines were $20.9{\times}10^3$ colony forming units (CFU)/mL for three-way syringes, $12.7{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ for high-speed handpieces and $9.8{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ for gargling water. The bacterial contamination levels of surfaces were $44.9{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in cuspidors, higher than in unit chairs ($2.9{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and light handles ($6.7{\times}10^3CFU/mL$). The mean bacterial cell count of water lines and surfaces was relatively high in all establishments founded 11 years ago or more, and the mean bacterial cell count of waterline handpieces was $6.27{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in establishments founded between one and five years ago, $11.16{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ six to ten years ago and $20.04{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ 11 years ago or more, which suggests that earlier foundation is associated with higher bacterial contamination levels with a statistical difference (p<0.01). Similarly, the mean bacterial cell count of cuspidors using water from water lines was also $70.16{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in at least 11-year-old establishments, statistically significantly higher among in one- to five-year-old ($4.61{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and six- to ten-year-old clinics ($47.89{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study may be utilized to improve the bacterial contamination levels in dental offices by controlling the characteristics and environmental factors of dental offices that affect the microbial contamination of waterlines and surfaces in such institutions.