Resumen

ZAMBRANO N, Maria A et al. Monitoreo bacteriológico de áreas clínicas odontológicas: estudio preliminar de un quirófano. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2007, vol.45, n.2, pp.160-165. ISSN 0001-6365.

Knowledge on nosocomial infections has led to improve prevention and control of infectious diseases. The School of Dentistry in the University of Los Andes seeks to increase oral health in its public service, but several limitations impede the establishment of competent clinical environments in agreement with International guidelines. These limitations increase the possibility of clumping potentially pathogen microorganisms, which can affect the final result of dental treatment and cause some other complications. In order to measure the bacterial load and the presence of pathogens like: Pseudomonas sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter sp. in the environment of the surgery room “A” (Department of Anesthesiology and Stomatological Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Los Andes), we performed a bacteriological analysis on samples obtained with hyssop from lamp holder, suction hose, arm rest and ventilation duct, and one sample obtained from the environment with a Tripticase Soy Lecithin Tween 80 agar plate opened over the instrumental tray, before and after three surgical procedures in different days. Bacterial load was measured and evaluated. The recovered bacteria were identified by conventional microbiological techniques. No satisfactory bacterial load was observed and three of the searched pathogens were recovered. The high bacterial load shows an inadequate environment for surgical procedures, it suggests deficiencies in disinfection’s techniques and supports the need for setting bacteriological monitoring programs for environments in dental clinic areas.

Palabras clave : Monitoreo ambiental; infecciones nosocomiales; desinfección ambiental en odontología.