PUMICE SLURRY AS A CROSSINFECTION HAZARD IN NONCLINICAL (TEACHING) DENTAL TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES

This research sought to compare the microbiological status of pumice s lurry in clinical and nonclinical dental laboratories. Samples were in oculated onto selective and nonselective media. Resultant colonies wer e counted and identified to genus or species level. In the nonclinical laboratory, counts were constant at approximately 10(7) to 10(8) cfu/ g. Pseudomonads, staphylococci and Bacillus spp comprised the major pu mice contaminants in both laboratories. It was concluded that nonclini cal laboratories are not immune from the presence of potentially patho genic microorganisms in pumice slurry. Disinfection reduces contaminat ion by oral microorganisms.