Manuscript Title: Comparative Assessment of the Microbial Load Before and After Dental Procedures on Scrubs Worn by Dental Students

Abstract

Background: Cross contamination is the spread of microorganisms from one surface to another and this is commonly observed in a hospital setting where both the patients and the healthcare workers are at risk. Dental procedures have shown a high amount of production of droplets and aerosols that contain bacteria and blood that are likely to cause respiratory infections. These aerosols are often seen in the air and on the attire worn by the dental care professionals. Aim of the study is to assess the load of microorganisms on the scrubs before and after various dental procedures. Materials and method: A total of 6 types of procedures were carried out by the operators- Extraction, Single visit pulpectomy, Root canal treatment, Scaling, Pit and fissure sealants, Preparation and cementation of Stainless-steel crowns. A total of 120 samples were obtained from the PPE of the dental operators from the chest and arm region, before and after each procedure after treating 30 patients. These samples were transferred to a nutrient agar media and incubated for 24 hours. Results: The total mean CFU analyzed after the dental procedure in the arm region was highest in Ultrasonic Scaling (212 CFU) and lowest in sealant (46.4 CFU).  A paired sample T test was done on the microbial count before and after the procedure in both chest and arms, which showed that the number of CFUs were high for all the samples taken after the procedure, which was highly statistically significant (p-value < 0.01) Conclusion: There is a significant increase in the microbial colonies after every procedure. Proper protocols should be followed to prevent nosocomial infections.