Isolation and identification of pathogenic bacterial species from dental clinics in Iraq-Najaf city

Dental practices are potential breeding grounds for pathogenic microorganisms, due to the nature of dental procedures which often involve contact with body fluids including blood and saliva. Statistical analysis of the prevalence of isolated and identified pathogenic bacterial species from dental clinics in the Iraqi city of Al-Najaf. In total 75 samples were taken from dental chairs, instruments, and water supplies from various dental clinics, and the isolated bacteria were isolated as Streptococcus mutans 16 isolates (21.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (14 isolates) (18.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15 isolates) (20%), Escherichia coli (18 isolates) (24%), and Pseudomonas spp. (12 isolates) (11%). To separate the isolated bacteria, the samples were grown in a range of the media, such manitol salte agar, nutritional agar, blood agar and MacConkey agar. Species identification was performed with automated identification tools (VITEK-2) and biochemical methods. The dental practice, continuously exposing to the oral cavity, is prone to the existence of various microorganisms, which urges dental clinicians to use advances sterilizing procedures and infection control system to avoid infection and cross-infection.