Quantitative Analysis of Selected Microorganisms Present at Various Sites in a Prosthetics Clinic and Dental Laboratory during Complete Denture Fabrication

: Contamination with oral commensals and pathogenic microorganisms, and cross contamination between clinic and laboratory can occur. The amount of contamination has not been determined. : Samples from different clinical and laboratory stages before and after disinfection (17 sites, 10 samples per stage) were collected. Laboratory surfaces and equipment were swabbed for 10 days (11 sites). Swabs were cultured for total mixed flora, Streptococci, Lactobacilli, , aerobic Gram-negative bacteria (AGNB) and . Knowledge of infection control among staff and students was assessed. : Clinic: In total, 30-40% of the samples overall were contaminated with mixed flora and Streptococci of >100 cfu/swab; >100 cfu of AGNB and were present on 6% and 1% of samples; 2% contained 100 cfu/swab; >100 cfu of AGNB were present on 11% of samples; none contained >100 cfu of . Disinfection significantly reduced the level of all organisms. Knowledge of infection control was sufficient, but compliance was poor. : Although the count of mixed flora was high, potential pathogens such as and were low. In immunocompromised patients, this can become a problem.