Issn no: Texas Journal of Medical Science 2 202

 
Keywords: Alginate impression, Analytical profile index, VITEK 2, Isolation, Iraq. 
 
Introduction
The oral cavity is a natural habitat for a large number of microorganisms. This ecological niche can be a 
reservoir for opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms that can pose a risk for cross- contamination and 
infection and may even cause systemic infections (Padda et al., 2019). This is of particular importance in the 
case of routine dental practice, as the risk of exposure to microorganisms in the oral cavity is increased due 
to the open and invasive nature of the procedures (Williams-Wiles and Vieira, 2019). It is important to 
consider that the pathways of contamination can be bidirectional. An infectious micro- organism may be 
transferred from the patient to members of the dental team, but also vice versa, e.g. through the hands of the 
dental team. Moreover, another infectious association is the transfer of pathogens from patient to patient, 
without the mediation of the dental staff, but rather through a surface located in the dental practice, or a 
device or instrument used during dental procedures (Villani et al., 2020). 
This can apply in the case of inadequate sterilization of the dental instruments or disinfection of the dental 
unit. The possibility also exists that pathogens present in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) could be spread by 
aerosols created by dental hand-pieces, presenting a risk for both the patient and members of the dental team 
(Sinha et al., 2020). There are a number of possible means by which transmission of viral and bacterial 
pathogens can occur in the dental practice. The patient’s own saliva and blood are major vectors of cross-
transmission. Blood-borne contamination can occur by exposure to the infectious material through non-
intact skin and mucosal lesions (Gehrke et al., 2019). The highest infectious risk of this type is associated 
with accidental punctures by contaminated needles or injuries by sharp instruments. Insufficient cross-
contamination control, such as improperly sterilized dental instruments, is also a possible device-borne 
means of pathogentransmission. Emanation of the pathogens through the spray of the hand-pieces of the 
dental unit can also be considered an air-borne or water-borne means of trans- mission, which may affect 
both the patient and the dental team (Sacoor et al., 2020). Air-borne infections can also occur via an 
inefficient ventilation system in the dental practice environment, whereby contaminated air may be withheld 
or recycled. Overall, the risk of any such transmission depends on the dose of the pathogens transmitted, the 
virulence of the pathogen, as well as the frequency or probability of exposure to the infectious material and 
the state of the host immune responses (Gallagher et al., 2020; Jay, 2021).
Infections can be caused by a wide range of pathogens, most prominently bacteria and viruses caused by 
patient exposure to aim is to control infections (Sehgal et al., 2020). The pathogenic microorganisms or 
transmitted to the dentist or laboratory staff via occupational exposure (Cebriá-Mendoza and Sanjuán, 
2019). 

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