Original Article
Volume 2024: Volume: 3: Issue: 2
Assessment of microbial contamination of radiographic devices
Prasanthi Sitaraman,
Graduate Student, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College
Karpagavalli Shanmugasundaram,Professor and Head, Seema Dental Collegeand Hospital,Rishikesh,Uthrakhand.
Address for Correspondence:Karpagavalli Shanmugasundaram, Prof and Head,Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology,Seema Dental College & Hospital,Rishikesh, Uthrakhand.
Abstract
Dental radiographic devices act as potential source of cross–contamination even though they are not directlyinvolved in any invasive procedures. The frequently accessed objects in a radiographic room such as theradiographic sensor, the tube head, and the timer button act as sources of contamination. The detectors used indigital radiography devices are not autoclavable and are highly susceptible to cross–contamination. The aimof this study is to demonstrate the possibility of the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in frequentlyaccessed parts of the radiographic devices.Materials and methods:Five surfaces that were frequentlytouched by the operator were analyzed. The surfaces chosen for testing for contamination are pre–startbutton, the tube head, the sensor, the touchpad of the computer connected to the sensor and the door handle ofthe radiographic room. All surface were wiped with sterile gauze containing 2.45 % glutaraldehyde at the startof the day and a sterile swab moistened with sterile saline solution were rubbed on each of the abovementioned surfaces and were cultured nutrient agar. After 4 hours, a sterile swab moistened with saline wasused to collect samples from all the surfaces again and were cultured in nutrient agar, MacConkey agar andblood agar. The plates were examined after inoculation and 24 hours of incubation. Samples from 2 consecutive days were collected and checked for microbial contamination.Results:The growth of microbialflora on the culture plates showed that there was contamination of all 5 surfaces analyzed. It is believed thatthe results of this study can help build a better disinfection system of radiographic devices if the presence ofpathogenic bacteria become evident through the study.
Key words
Contamination; radiographic devices; disinfection; microbial flora; infection control
Financial support and sponsorship :
Nil
Conflicts of interest :
There are no conflicts of interest
How to cite this article: Sitaram et al. Assessment of microbial contamination of radiographic devices. Int J Oral Rehab 2024;3:2:6-13.
