Comparative Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Apron with Mandarin Collar and Open Collar in Prevention of Microbial Contamination on Street Clothing

Aim To comparatively evaluate the protecting efficiency of mandarin collar aprons as against the open collar aprons. Settings and Design Cross-sectional randomized comparative study Methods and Material Ten post graduate students were given a verbal written set of instructions to be followed during the study. Each study participant was made to wear an open collar and a mandarin collar aprons separately on two different days. The microbial samples were collected using a sterile swab from the chest area of the street clothing at the beginning of the day at dental clinic (Pre patient care) and at the end of the day at dental clinic (Post patient care). The obtained samples were microbiologically analyzed and the difference in the colony count between the two types of aprons were compared. Results Significantly more number of gram positive cocci were seen in open collar apron group, when the difference between the pre work and post work colony counts were compared (p=0.031). Conclusion Mandarin collar aprons offer significantly better protection of the street clothing of the dental health care providers than the closed collar aprons against the colonization of gram positive cocci.