Identification of the fungal population in air samples collected at Pediatric Dentistry teaching clinic

Abstract

Infectious agents can be transmitted via microscopic particles suspended in the air and secretions present on contaminated surfaces of instruments and equipment. Indoor airborne contaminants include fungi, bacteria and viruses, which come from outside air, the air conditioning system, the building, furniture, carpet and their occupants. Most procedures performed at the dental clinic release large amounts of aerosols, minute particles that remain for several hours in the air and may contain several microorganisms, among them fungi. In teaching clinics, this contamination is greater due to the high number of occupants and procedures performed at the same time. By knowing the fungal genera to which their patients are exposed, the professional can minimize the risks of infection, adopting practices of hygiene of the environment and air that can aid in the prevention of diseases. The fungi check was performed by the plate sedimentation method, which is useful for the analysis of the quantity and quality of fungi present in internal and external environments. Species belonging to the genus Aspergillus, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Nigrospora and Penicillium were identified, most frequently found Penicillium and Aspergillus genera from external and internal environment.