Reducing Contaminated Surfaces Using Fluorescent Marker in Dental Environment

Objectives: The Covid-19 pandemic outbreak raised the urgent need to detect contaminated surfaces in order to prevent infectious transmission. The aim of the study was to improve cleaning and disinfection of contaminated areas in TAU dental school clinics and school's public areas by using fluorescent marker.
Methods: Fluorescent marker gel was applied on frequently touched surfaces for an initial phase that lasted for 3 months in a frequency of once a week. The surfaces were preliminary studied for contamination potency. The detected contaminated surfaces were divided into 2 categories: dental clinics (students' units, X-ray rooms, assistant's desk etc.) and school public areas (elevators, restrooms, secretarial desk etc.). The gel was applied at the end of a working day and evaluated with an UV flashlight at the end of the next working day. Surfaces that were not cleaned were surveyed and the results were recorded and photographed. The rate of targets cleaned versus the targets missed was calculated and presented, visualized and explained to the students and the cleaning staff (educational session).The second phase started one month after the educational session and followed the same protocol as the initial phase.
Results: The overall rate for daily cleaning in the students' clinics and in public areas, was found to be poor 23% and 25% accordingly. The percentages show the cleaning rate out of all examined targets. After the Intervention, the results showed a significant improvement in cleaning practices. The overall rate after the educational session was found to be 43% and 52% accordingly.
Conclusions: An improvement was shown in cleaning and disinfection of dental environment. The use of fluorescent marker as was shown to be effective in raising awareness of areas difficult to clean and disinfect.