Contamination of surgical mask during aerosol-producing dental treatments
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Contamination of surgical mask during aerosol-producing dental treatments Madline Gund 1 & Jonas Isack 1 & Matthias Hannig 1 & Sigrid Thieme-Ruffing 2 & Barbara Gärtner 2 & Gabor Boros 3 & Stefan Rupf 1 Received: 31 March 2020 / Accepted: 14 October 2020 # The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Objectives Surgical masks are usually contaminated during dental treatment. So far it has not been investigated whether a surgical mask itself can be a source of microbial transmission. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the microbiological contamination of surgical masks during dental treatment and the transfer of microorganisms from the mask to the hands. Materials and methods Five dental treatment modalities were studied: carious cavity preparation (P-caries, n = 10), tooth substance preparation (P-tooth, n = 10), trepanation and root canal treatment (P-endo, n = 10), supragingival ultrasonic application (US-supra, n = 10), and subgingival periodontal ultrasonic instrumentation (US-sub, n = 10). Bacterial contamination of mask and gloves worn during treatment was tested by imprinting on agar plates. Additionally, before masks were tested, their outer surface was touched with a new sterile glove. This glove was also imprinted on agar. Bacteria were identified by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. Colony-forming units (CFU) were scored: score 0: 0 CFU, score 1: < 102 CFU, score 2: > 102 CFU, score 3: dense microbial growth. Results All masks and all gloves used during treatment displayed bacterial contamination (sample scores 0/1/2/3: masks 0/46/3/1 and gloves 0/31/10/9). After touching the masks with new sterile gloves, microorganisms were recovered with the following contamination scores: P-caries: 4/6/0/0, P-tooth: 2/8/0/0: P-endo: 7/3/0/0, US-supra: 0/9/1/0, US-sub: 2/8/0/0. No statistically significant differences were detected between the treatment modalities. Streptococci spp. and Staphylococci spp. representing the oral and cutaneous flora dominated. Conclusions Surgical masks are contaminated after aerosol-producing dental treatment procedures. Used masks have a potential to be a source of bacterial contamination of the hands. Clinical relevance Dental staff should avoid touching the outer surface of masks with their hands to prevent transmission of pathogens. It is recommendable to change the mask after each treated patient followed by hand disinfection. Keywords Surgical face mask . Infection control . Dental practice . Aerosol . Microbiology . MALDI TOF mass spectrometry
Introduction * Stefan Rupf [email protected] 1
Clinic of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Saarland University, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 73, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
2
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Department of Hospital Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
3
Department of Oral Surgery, German Armed Forces Central Hospital, Koblenz, Germany
Dental health care professionals are exposed to numerous risk factors [1]. Mostly importa
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