Simulation of the airborne transmission of respiratory viruses in dental practice
Authors:   Kemerovo State Medical University, Kemerovo, Russian Federation, Ivanov D.Yu. , Drozdova O.M. ,   Kemerovo State Medical University, Kemerovo, Russian Federation, Aleshkin A.V. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Brusina E.B. ,   Kemerovo State Medical University, Kemerovo, Russian Federation, Zakharova Yu.V. ,   Kemerovo State Medical University, Kemerovo, Russian Federation, Kiseleva I.A. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Efimova O.G. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Zubkova E.S. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Morozova E.V. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Misaeva T.E. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Pasivkina M.A. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Rubalskii E.O. ,   G.N.Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, Rubalskiу M.O. ,   Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russian Federation, Kozlova O.I. ,   Kuzbass Clinical Dental Clinic, Kemerovo, Russian Federation, Malkova N.A. ,   Kuzbass Clinical Dental Clinic, Kemerovo, Russian Federation, Kondratova E.Yu. ,   Kuzbass Clinical Dental Clinic, Kemerovo, Russian Federation
Published: March 2024

Objective. In simulation modeling, to study the airborne transmission of respiratory viruses to medical personnel during dental treatment of patients. Materials and methods. During the complex treatment of chronic periodontitis with the use of a bacteriophage preparation, a simulation of the airborne respiratory infection viruses was performed. The spread of the staphylococcal phage was evaluated in 50 air samples and 190 flushes from the doctor, his personal protective equipment, tools and environmental objects by a modified Grazia method on the target bacteria of non-pathogenic Staphylococcus xylosus. The identification of the bacteriophage was carried out in PCR. Results. In the complex treatment of periodontitis in patients using bacteriophages, it was detected in 84.00% [95% CI 63.92–95.46] dental office air samples with maximum frequency in the patient's treatment area, the doctor's and assistant's areas (100.00% [95% CI 47.82–134.48]). The bacteriophage equally contaminated the inner surfaces of the medical mask and the nasal cavity of the doctor (p = 0.62). The maximum amount of phage was isolated from dental equipment: air-water syringe ((35.30 ± 10.55)·107 PFU/ml) and an ultrasonic scaler ((23.02 ± 7.72)·107 PFU/ml). Conclusion. The use of aerosol-generating procedures in the treatment of dental diseases is accompanied by intensive contamination by viruses of the air of the dental office, environmental objects and personal protective equipment, which determine the high risks of infection of medical care workers. Key words: aerosol generating technologies, bacteriophage, airborne transmission, medical care workers, patients, dentistry