Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects 2008-210X 3 4 2009 12 01 Microbial Contamination of the White Coats of Dental Staff in the Clinical Setting 136 140 EN Harsh Priya Shashidhar Acharya Meghashyam Bhat Mamtha Ballal Journal Article 2009 01 27 2009 10 16 Background and aims. Although wearing a white coat is an accepted part of medical and dental practice, it is a potential source of cross-infection. The objective of this study was to determine the level and type of microbial contamination present on the white coats of dental interns, graduate students and faculty in a dental clinic. Materials and methods. Questionnaire and cross-sectional survey of the bacterial contamination of white coats in two predetermined areas (chest and pocket) on the white coats were done in a rural dental care center. Paired sample t-test and chisquare test were used for Statistical analysis. Results. 60.8% of the participants reported washing their white coats once a week. Grading by the examiner revealed 15.7% dirty white coats. Also, 82.5% of the interns showed bacterial contamination of their white coats compared to 74.7% graduate students and 75% faculty members irrespective of the area examined. However, chest area was consistently a more bacteriologically contaminated site as compared to the pocket area. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed resistant varieties of microorganisms against Amoxicillin (60%), Erythromycin (42.5%) and Cotrimoxazole (35.2%). Conclusion. The white coats seem to be a potential source of cross-infection in the dental setting. The bacterial contamination carried by white coats, as demonstrated in this study, supports the ban on white coats from non-clinical areas.