Title of article :
Microbial Contamination of the White Coats of Dental Staff in the Clinical Setting
Author/Authors :
Ballal, Mamtha Department of Microbiology - International Center - Kasturba Medical College - Manipal, India , Priya, Harsh Department of Community Dentistry - Manipal College of Dental Sciences - Mangalore, India , Acharya, Shashidhar Department of Community Dentistry - Manipal College of Dental Sciences - Manipal, India , Bhat, Meghashyam Department of Community Dentistry - Manipal College of Dental Sciences - Manipal, India
Abstract :
Background and aims. Although wearing a white coat is an accepted part of medical and dental practice, it is a potential source of cross-infection. The objective of this study was to determine the level and type of microbial contamination present on the white coats of dental interns, graduate students and faculty in a dental clinic.
Materials and methods. Questionnaire and cross-sectional survey of the bacterial contamination of white coats in two predetermined areas (chest and pocket) on the white coats were done in a rural dental care center. Paired sample t-test and chi-square test were used for Statistical analysis.
Results. 60.8% of the participants reported washing their white coats once a week. Grading by the examiner revealed 15.7% dirty white coats. Also, 82.5% of the interns showed bacterial contamination of their white coats compared to 74.7% graduate students and 75% faculty members irrespective of the area examined. However, chest area was consistently a more bacte-riologically contaminated site as compared to the pocket area. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed resistant varieties of mi-croorganisms against Amoxicillin (60%), Erythromycin (42.5%) and Cotrimoxazole (35.2%).
Conclusion. The white coats seem to be a potential source of cross-infection in the dental setting. The bacterial contamina-tion carried by white coats, as demonstrated in this study, supports the ban on white coats from non-clinical areas.
Keywords :
white coats , microbial contamination , dental students , cross infection , Antibiotic sensitivity
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics