Microbial contamination in disposable caps and cloth caps in the periodontics department of the Dr. Rene Puig Bentz Dental Clinic at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University
Description
This dataset is from a comparative study that aimed to evaluate microbial contamination in disposable and cloth surgical caps used in the periodontics department of the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic. The hypothesis was that there would be differences in bacterial load between the two types of caps, with cloth caps being more susceptible to contamination due to their reusability and exposure to an environment with high aerosol generation. A cross- sectional study was conducted using a sample of 60 caps (30 disposable and 30 cloth), from which 120 microbiological samples were obtained before and after use. Data were collected using microbiological sampling techniques that allowed for quantification of the bacterial load and identification of microorganisms. The results showed that cloth caps exhibited higher microbial contamination before use and a greater increase after use compared to disposable caps. Microorganisms characteristic of the dental environment, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Pseudomonas spp., were identified. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the two types of caps. These results suggest that material type and use conditions influence bacterial load, highlighting the need to strengthen biosafety protocols and control the use and replacement of caps. These findings suggest that material type and usage conditions influence bacterial load, underscoring the importance of strengthening biosafety protocols and controlling the use and replacement of clinical caps to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
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Steps to reproduce
The data were obtained through a comparative, cross-sectional study conducted in the periodontics department at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic. A total of 60 surgical caps (30 disposable and 30 cloth) were selected for the study. Microbiological samples were taken from each cap before and after clinical use, resulting in 120 samples total. Samples were collected using sterile swabs and cultured in media suitable for bacterial growth. The samples were then incubated under controlled conditions, and the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) was counted to quantify the bacterial load. The microorganisms present were then identified using conventional microbiological methods. The obtained data were recorded in a database and statistically analyzed to compare microbial contamination between the two cap types before and after use.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez UreñaNacional, Santo Domingo