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Biomedical subjects

S Petti

Publications and source records attributed to S Petti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hygiene education in the Laureate Course of Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics: evaluation of student knowledge about the risk of infection in a dental practice environment].

Hygiene education for dental students is crucial in order to control and reduce the risk of infections in their future professional practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement in university students' knowledge of infectious disease prevention, dental instruments and environmental decontamination following the Course in Dental Hygiene and Prevention. 595 questionnaires were submitted to dental students at twelve Italian Universities; 335 were filled out before the Course began and 260 at the end of the same course. The students in both the PRE-course and at the POST-course evaluations demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding the transmission of infections in dental practices, knowledge improved following the Hygiene course.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Health-related behaviour and HCV prevalence among elderly and younger adults in an isolated community close to Rome (Italy)].

The aim of this study has been to investigate the differences in the health-related behaviour by means of a questionnaire in a sample of elderly (>54 years, 1st generation) and younger adults (<54 years, 2nd generation, all of them sons/daughters of HCV positive subjects), given the high difference in HCV positive prevalence among the two groups (19.4% vs. 2.1%). Most (53.4% vs. 0.0%) of the 1st generation subjects used glass syringes while all the 2nd generation subjects used disposable syringes. Among the elderly, the frequency of hospitalisation (70% vs. 50%), transfusions (11.8% vs. 2.9%) and dental therapy by false dentists (52% vs. 0%) were higher. These results show that the use of non recyclable syringes is the main responsible for the drastic reduction of HCV circulation in the present community, and the consequent decrease in the risk for infection in younger subjects. Moreover, dental therapy was not related to an increased risk for infection, providing that the treatment has been made by a "true" dentist. Finally, the intrafamiliar transmission was not supported by the present data.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparison between different methods to monitor the microbial level of indoor air contamination in the dental office].

There is no unanimous consensus on the best methodology to monitor the microbial contamination level of the air in the dental offices. Therefore, we compared a precise but expensive and complex active air sampler (Surface Air System--SAS) with a passive method (Air Microbiological Index--AMI) and a microbial parameter of salivary microrganisms, (oral streptococci--OS), with other, more simply detectable, yet more generic, parameters (staphilococci--ST total viable flora--TVF). We tested the various combinations of systems and parameters in three multi-chair dental departments, for two different weekdays, before (T0) and during (T1) the working period. Using non-parametric statistical tests we analysed, (i) the difference between T0 and T1 contamination levels assessed by various methods, in order to confirm their efficacy; (ii) the association between parameters, in order to assess whether generic parameters were as reliable as the specific parameter; (iii) the association between sampling systems, in order to test whether AMI could efficaciously substitute the active samplers. The microbial levels were significantly higher at T1 than at T0, excluding ST assessed by SAS. The parameters were highly inter-correlated. However, for low SO levels, the level of the association of this parameter with the others decreased. The results provided by SAS and AMI were also significantly correlated. However, for low contamination levels this association was not significant. In conclusion, the complex and expensive method (SO level assessed by SAS) seems more reliable for low aerial contamination levels, whereas for high levels, more simple and cheap methods could also be used.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pilot study on the presence of Legionella spp in 6 Italian cities' dental units].

Among the microorganism involved in environmental contamination, Legionella spp is actually considered an important infectious hazard. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of Legionella spp in water samples collected from 138 dental unit selected from public outpatient clinics of 6 Italian cities. The samples were taken from oral rinsing cup, air-water syringe, ultrasonic scaler and the turbine to investigate Legionella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the total heterotrophic count at 36 degrees and 22 degrees. Legionella spp was present in 33,3% dental unit water; but a significant difference was shown among the enrolled cities. In 43,5% of water sample Legionella concentration was 1.000-10.000 CFU/L and in 30,4% was >10.000 CFU/L. L. pneumophila 1 was found in 23,9% of water samples. The results demonstrate that the concentration of Legionella spp in dental unit water lines could be high and this suggests that the exposure to these micoorganism during the dental practise could be a potential health risk both for dental personnel and for the patients too, especially when immunocompromised.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Methodological possibilities for in vitro evaluation of the antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial plaque from periodontal pockets].

Two different methods for making the subuletic bacterial antibiogram were compared, namely, the inhibition halo technique and that of percentage reduction. The first, of the more classical nature, is based on the introduction of the antibiotic inside a small cavity made in the culture medium, which leads to the formation of circular haloes around the cavity itself. The magnitude of the hales is all the greater, the more effective the antibiotic. The percentage-reduction technique calculates the reduction, expressed as a percentage, of the total number of colonies grown in the cultural medium containing the antibiotic, with respect to the number of colonies grown on a control culture-plate without antibiotic. Both techniques gave unambiguous results in 92.8% of the cases, both showing satisfactory validity; however, the percentage reduction technique proved to be more complex, to require fuller investigation and to be more expensive than the other. In fact, to make the antibiogram of a bacterial plaque concerning the seven antibiotics tested, 24 plates of agar-culture were necessary with the "r" method, whereas, with that of "inhibition haloes" only two sufficed. In addition, in the case of plaques with scarce microbial density or in the presence of highly invasive germs, by using the "inhibition haloes" method, it is always possible to have some information, which is impossible with the other method.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A new device for the disinfection of handpieces and turbines].

Dental handpieces are often difficult to disinfect. This is one of the main reasons for the considerable risk of cross-infections in dental offices. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the disinfectant property of a recent, commercially available, automatic instrument, described as capable to clean, disinfect and lubricate dental handpieces. The following experimental evaluations were made: 1) antimicrobial activity of the disinfectant (glyoxalaldehyde) used. The method described by the European Committee for Standardization was followed. Test microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. 2) disinfection of dental handpieces (69 contra-angles and 97 turbines of different marks). They were naturally infected using them on patients for 30 minutes at least. 3) disinfection of dental handpieces infected with bacterial suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes (beta-haemolyticus, group A), Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results of the first experiment showed a strong bactericidal power of the disinfectant with both the tested strains, after a contact time of only 1 minute. A great proportion of the dental handpieces tested during the second experiment were found disinfected: from 84% through 89% out of the various models of turbine handpieces; from 89% through 100% out of the models of contra-angle handpieces. Even though bacterial contamination level was low (about 10(3) microorganisms per handpiece), a satisfactory disinfectant ability in natural conditions was found. The results of the third experiment were unclear. The tested instrument reduced 10(5)-10(8) times the original bacterial count when the gram positive microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes) were used. On the other hand, when Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were used, the results were different: the bacterial count was reduced 10(6)-10(7) times in some cases, and only 10(2) times in other cases. This difference was found in the tests made using the same attachment and in those made using various attachments. In conclusion, the tested instrument showed, in most cases, a good disinfectant property, but the presence of unclear results suggests that some technical modifications are required.

Cross Infection↗