Volume 26, Issue 119, January 2022

Contamination level of unused gloves in King Saud University dental clinics

Mohammad Helmi^1♦, Hamad N Albagieh², Rasha S Alrasheed³, Reem M Aldosary³, Tala M Alsulaim³

¹Periodontics and Community Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
²Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Science Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
³Dental Intern, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Periodontics and Community Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study aims to measure the contamination level of gloves contained in an open box during dental procedures in the clinics of King Saud University, Dental Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: a prospective in-vitro study for evaluating the contamination level of unused non-sterile latex gloves in dental clinics. Distance between the glove box and the dental chair was measured and grouped into two categories. The boxes were numbered and swabbed before opening. Two additional swabs were collected from the unused gloves at the beginning and end of each clinical session. The sample was then evaluated to identify type of bacteria and number of colonies. Results: 57.5% of contaminated second gloves were within 135cm distance while 70.83% of non-contaminated second gloves were located further than 135cm of the dental chair. For any given second glove placed more than 135cm, there is a decrease of 1.34cfu/ml compared to second gloves placed within 135cm. Conclusion: the study findings necessitate the importance of placing exposed glove boxes no less than 135cm from the source of aerosols to reduce the risk contaminating unused gloves.

Keywords: microbiology, dental, infection control, aerosols, contamination

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms28e2047

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i119/ms28e2047

Published: 14 January 2022