Objectives To study air quality, contamination on the surface of objects and medical equipment in an outpatient department of stomatology, and to compare the effectiveness of different disinfection measures, in order to provide scientific basis for the prevention of iatrogenic infections.

Methods Monitoring the counts of bacteria in the air, on the treatment table of comprehensive treatment chair and turbine handpiece in the outpatient department of stomatology, and analyzing statistical results.

Results After accepting patients for a few hours in the outpatient department of stomatology, the counts of bacteria in the air and on the treatment table of comprehensive treatment chair showed a trend of increasing, and the situation was far more serious by the end of diagnosis and treatment activity in a whole morning.Using a ventilation with natural air method and a circulated ultraviolet air disinfection method for 1 hour, the counts of bacteria in the air of three outpatient departments of stomatology decreased significantly, but no significant difference between the two air disinfection methods was observed (P > 0.05).Wiping the treatment table of comprehensive treatment chair with 1%single potassium persulfate disinfectant, the counts of total bacteria decreased significantly after 5 minutes.The total counts of bacteria on the surface and inside of turbine hand-pieces was much higher after use.All kinds of bacteria could be completely killed by ethylene oxide sterilization method.

Conclusions The environmental quality of outpatient department of stomatology during the process of diagnosis and treatment was vulnerable to be polluted.Total counts of bacteria in the air of an outpatient department of stomatology could be reduced effectively by the disinfection methods mentioned above to reach the relevant national standards.