In the indoor environment of dental clinics, dental staff and patients are exposed to various types of infectious agents transported by aerosols and particles, generated during dental procedures, promoting an increased risk of cross-infection. The aim of this study was to determine the levels and diversity of microbial aerosol in relation to particle load in five different departments of a dental school clinic. The air samples were collected by an active single-stage Andersen sampler during the treatment procedure. The mean concentrations of airborne bacteria were in the range of 52–1030 and 8–844 CFU/m3 at the distances of 0.5 and 2 m, respectively. Bacterial aerosols in pediatric, endodontics, and restorative wards and fungal aerosols in all the sampling wards were significantly higher at the distances of 0.5 m. The dominant bacteria and fungi were identified as Micrococcus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, and Alternaria. The positive associations were also obtained between bacteria and fungi levels and particulate matter (PM) concentrations.

中文翻译：

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牙科学校诊所不同室内环境中微生物气溶胶的定量和定性评估

在牙科诊所的室内环境中，牙科工作人员和患者会接触到由牙科手术过程中产生的气溶胶和颗粒传播的各种传染性病原体，从而增加了交叉感染的风险。本研究的目的是确定一家牙科学校诊所的五个不同部门中微生物气溶胶的水平和多样性与颗粒负荷的关系。在处理过程中，空气样本由主动式单级安徒生采样器收集。在 0.5 和 2 m 的距离处，空气传播细菌的平均浓度分别为 52-1030 和 8-844 CFU/m3。儿科、牙髓病房和修复病房的细菌气溶胶和所有采样病房的真菌气溶胶在 0.5 m 距离处显着升高。优势细菌和真菌被确定为微球菌、芽孢杆菌、链球菌、葡萄球菌、青霉菌、枝孢菌、曲霉、根霉属和链格孢属。细菌和真菌水平与颗粒物 (PM) 浓度之间也存在正相关。