Environmental Burden Of Candida Albicans In Dental Clinics: Implications For Infection Control In High-Traffic Units

Cross-contamination in dental clinics poses a significant risk for microbial transmission, particularly with opportunistic pathogens like Candida albicans. Dental unit surfaces, including chair headrests, light handles, and unit control panels, can serve as reservoirs for C. albicans, facilitating its transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of C. albicans contamination on dental unit surfaces and assess the effectiveness of routine infection control measures. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, in ۲۰۲۳. A total of ۱۲۰ samples were collected from high-contact dental unit surfaces before, during, and after clinical shifts. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and identified using Gram staining, germ tube tests, and CHROMagar Candida differentiation. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed using the disk diffusion method with fluconazole, amphotericin B, and nystatin. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version ۲۶, with paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests applied to assess statistical significance (P < ۰.۰۵). Candida species were detected in ۳۹.۲% of all samples. The contamination rate before clinical shifts was ۱۸.۳%, rising significantly to ۴۲.۵% during shifts and ۶۰.۰% after shifts. The highest contamination levels were observed on dental chair headrests (۷۲.۵%) and light handles (۶۵.۸%). C. albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. Despite routine disinfection, ۳۹.۲% of surfaces remained contaminated post-cleaning, suggesting that current sterilization protocols may be insufficient. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed ۸۵.۱% of C. albicans isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, while ۹۶.۷% were susceptible to amphotericin B and nystatin.

کلیدواژه ها:

Candida albicans ، Dental Unit Contamination ، Cross-Infection ، Antifungal Resistance ، Infection Control