Airborne contamination of the dental operatory during activities performed with open or closed windows.

PURPOSE: To quantify the biological contamination of a dental operatory environment using a biological tracer. METHODS: A Streptococcus mutans suspension was infused into the mouth of a phantom, and an operator performed standardized dental procedures using an air turbine, a contra-angle handpiece, or an ultrasonic scaler either with windows open or closed. The presence of the tracer was measured by placing Petri dishes with a selective medium at 18 sites on the dental unit and 38 sites in the surrounding operatory environment. RESULTS: The contamination was drastically reduced when windows were opened, no matter which handpiece was used. Air turbine spread significantly higher contamination compared to contra-angle and scaler. All tested instruments spread the tracer over the entire dental unit and the surrounding environment, including the walls and ceiling; however, higher contamination levels were detected on the dental unit compared to the operatory surfaces. Opening windows during dental operative procedures greatly reduced contamination levels for all handpieces and can be recommended for reducing airborne contamination levels. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The significant levels of airborne contamination produced when operating dental handpieces can be significantly reduced by natural ventilation, i.e., simply opening the windows.

Comparison between radiological and nasopharyngolaryngoscopic assessment of adenoid tissue volume in mouth breathing children.

The pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid) constitutes the upper portion of the Waldeyer's ring and is located at the top of the nasopharynx, next to the auditory tube and choana. It plays an important role in recurrent otitis of the middle ear and many times its enlargement is responsible for upper airway obstruction. Tonsillectomy is often the treatment of choice for tonsillar diseases. So far, it is the most frequent and one of the oldest surgical procedures performed in children and young adults. The criteria for tonsillectomy, its effect on patient's immunological integrity and the surgical risks are widely controversial. Image study using paranasal sinuses x-ray is a very simple, easy and comfortable method to evaluate the sizes of adenoids and the grade of upper airway obstruction. Cohen et al. supported that paranasal sinuses x-ray is the best way to determine pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy. On the other hand, nasopharyngolaryngoscopy can provide more accurate data on the nasopharynx, as it can dynamically reveal its structures and the obstruction status of the upper airway. This study compared the grade of adenoid hypertrophy, as well as upper airway obstruction, using the above-mentioned approaches in children ranging from 3 to 10 years old. The study came to the conclusion that nasopharyngolaryngoscopy is a much more accurate diagnostic procedure than radiological evaluation of the nasopharynx.

Healthcare-associated respiratory tract infection and colonization in an intensive care unit caused by Burkholderia cepacia isolated in mouthwash.

OBJECTIVES: Burkholderia cepacia has been linked to healthcare-associated infections and colonization caused by contamination of alcohol-free mouthwash used in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. The purpose of our study was to establish the source of a clustering of healthcare-associated B. cepacia isolates in patients on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: During April 2012 the Infection Control Committee became concerned when B. cepacia was isolated from tracheal aspirate cultures of three ICU patients. The medical records for the years 2011 and 2012 were reviewed to identify further cases. Cultures of potential reservoirs were done. Isolates from patients and an alcohol-free mouthwash were submitted to multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis and antimicrobial resistance testing. RESULTS: Four patients with positive cultures for B. cepacia were identified before the review of the medical records for the years 2011 and 2012. Nine further cases were identified in the review, defined as a patient with pneumonia who had a culture of respiratory secretions that was positive for B. cepacia. Three were cases of infection and 10 were colonizations. All of the isolates from patients (J, K, L, and M) and mouthwash samples (B19, B20, and B21) were genetically identical by MLST analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings strongly suggest that alcohol-free mouthwash solution intrinsically contaminated with B. cepacia was the source of these colonizations and infections involving adults in the ICU.

Estudo comparativo radiológico e nasofibroscópico do volume adenoideano em criancas respiradoras orais / Comparison between radiological and nasopharyngolaryngoscopic assessment of adenoid tissue volume in mouth breathing children

A tonsila faríngea ou adenóides é a extensão superior do anel linfático de Waldeyer e está localizada na porcão alta da cavidade nasofaríngea, próxima à tuba auditiva e à coana. Ela desempenha um papel relevante nas otites médias recorrentes e freqüentemente sua hipertrofia é responsável pela obstrucão das vias aéreas superiores. A tonsilectomia é um tratamento comumente realizado para doencas crônicas das tonsilas e ainda é o procedimento cirúrgico mais freqüente e mais antigo realizado em criancas e adultos jovens. Os critérios para a realizacão da tonsilectomia, o efeito da mesma na integridade imunológica do paciente e seus riscos inerentes à cirurgia são muito discutíveis e controversos em todo o mundo. Estudos de imagem utilizando-se o raio-X do cavo é um método simples, fácil e confortável para avaliar o tamanho das adenóides e o grau de obstrucão das vias aéreas superiores. Um estudo nasofibroscópico da nasofaringe pode fornecer uma informacão melhor sobre essa região, tendo em vista que ele mostra todas as estruturas presentes na nasofaringe e o grau de obstrucão das vias aéreas superiores de forma dinâmica. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico não randomizado. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Este estudo comparou o grau de hipertrofia e de obstrucão das vias aéreas superiores, usando os dois métodos acima, em criancas de 3 a 10 anos de idade, constatando que a nasofibroscopia flexível é um método diagnóstico excepcionalmente mais fidedigno do que o raio-x do cavo, na avaliacão volumétrica da adenóide.

Análisis epidemiológico de 970 pacientes con fisura labio-alvéolo-palatina con tratamiento prequirúrgico: Argentina 2009 / Epidemiological analysis of 970 patients with cleft lip, alveolus palate with presurgical treatment

Las fisuras labio-alvéolo-palatinas (FLAP) son anomalías congénitas que tienen una frecuencia estimada, mundial, de 1/500 a 1/2500 nacidos vivos y una etiología que involucra factores genéticos, ambientales. Objetivo General: Estudiar la complejidad de la rehabilitación del paciente FLAP que concurre a servicios adheridos a la Red. Metodología: la Red de Servicios de Rehabilitación de pacientes FLAP, diseñada y organizada en la primera etapa del proyecto ha proporcionado por medio de su registro epidemiológico la información básica de 970 pacientes. Resultados: La fisura de paladar con labio fisurado (Q.37) es el diagnóstico más frecuente con el 70 por ciento, la fisura de paladar (Q.35) el 17,8 por ciento y labio fisurado (Q36) 11,3 por ciento. En el 20,3 por ciento de los casos hubo malformaciones asociadas. La colocación de "placa ortopédica" y "placa con tutor nasal" fueron aplicados en el 83 por ciento de los casos. La cirugía de labio en el 60 por ciento de los casos fue realizada en tiempo y oportunidad, antes de los 6 meses de vida. En "labio unilateral" el tipo de cirugía más empleado fue de "rotación y avance" en el 40 por ciento. El 70 por ciento (32) de los casos de niños de 1 a 8 años de edad recibió "Cirugía Secundaria".

Oral clefts, in particular clefts lip and palate, are mayor birth defects with a variable prevalence ranging from 1 in 500 to 1 in 2500 newborns. Oral clefts include syndromic or isolated forms; both genes and environmental exposures are involved in their complex etiology. Objective: The objective of the present study is to organize a network of rehabilitation services of patients with FLAP. Methodology: The Network of Rehabilitation Services, designed and organized in the first phase of the project, has provided basic information of 970 patients by means of one epidemiologic register. Results: Palatal fissure with fissured lip (Q.37) is the most frequent diagnostic with 70 per cent of the cases; palatal fissure (Q35) with 17.8 per cent, and fissured lip (Q36) with 11.3 per cent. In 20.3 per cent of cases there were associated malformations. Placing of "orthopaedic plate" and "plate with nasal tutor" was applied to 83 per cent of the cases. The 60 per cent of surgery of lip was made in time and opportunity, before the 6 months of life. The most utilized method of surgery in "unilateral lip" was "rotation and advance" in 40 per cent of the cases. The 70 per cent (32) of the cases of children from 1 to 8 years old have received “Secondary Surgery”.