Air microbial contamination in dental clinics: comparison between active and passive methods

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Occupational Health
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Microbial air contamination is a concern in healthcare settings, including dental clinics.
• Accurate monitoring of air quality is essential for infection control.
• Existing methods for assessing microbial air contamination include active and passive sampling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between active (CFU/m3) and passive (IMA) air sampling methods.
• To establish equations for converting between the two sampling methods.
• To determine the suitability of each method for routine monitoring in dental clinics.

Main Methods:

• Air sampling was conducted in ten dental clinics over three months, before, during, and after clinical activity.
• Active sampling measured colony-forming units per cubic metre (CFU/m3).
• Passive sampling measured the Index of Microbial Air Contamination (IMA).
• Statistical analysis used the Spearman test to evaluate correlation.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant correlation was found between active and passive sampling methods across all sampling times (T0, T1, T2).
• Correlation patterns varied between different dental clinics.
• Both methods effectively assessed microbial air quality and identified critical situations.

Conclusions:

• Both active and passive air sampling methods are effective for evaluating microbial air quality in dental clinics.
• Passive sampling (IMA) demonstrated higher sensitivity during clinical activity.
• Due to its simplicity, economy, and standardization, passive sampling is recommended for routine monitoring.