Open AccessDetection of Bacterial Contamination in Dental Unit Water Lines and Testing the Effectiveness of Disinfectants against these Contaminants
Author(s) -
Sham Lal,
Pardeep Kumar,
. Sapna,
Om Parkash,
Zulfiqar Ali Malik,
Ameer Ahmed Mirbahar,
Khalida Unar,
Waheed Ahmed Ghumro,
Ayaz Ali Unar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of pharmaceutical research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-9119
DOI - 10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i831214
Subject(s) - contamination , colony forming unit , pseudomonas aeruginosa , microbiological culture , microbiology and biotechnology , biofilm , environmental science , veterinary medicine , bacteria , biology , medicine , ecology , genetics
Aim: Contaminated dental unit water lines (DUWLs) are a possible source for spreading microorganisms in dental practices. The aim of this study was to detect the bacterial contamination of dental unit water and investigate the effectiveness of the disinfectants.
Methodology: Bacterial contamination was detected by a) using bacterial culture of heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and b) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of DUWLs tube. Subsequently, dentists were suggested to treat the DUWLs with disinfectants to eradicate bacterial contaminants and its effectiveness was tested after three months.
Results: Bacterial contamination of the water samples ranged from not detected to 2.38×106 CFU/mL. Out of 34 DUWLs water samples tested, 30 (88.24%) samples exceeded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended threshold of ≤500 CFU /mL, whereas only 4 (11.76%) samples met the standards. Contamination by total coliforms and P. aeruginosa was detected in 52.94% and 64.7% of samples respectively. SEM displayed a dense biofilm on DUWLs tubing confirming the bacterial contamination. The intervention for disinfection of DUWLs resulted more than 50% samples with acceptable bacterial count in test performed after three months.
Conclusion: The high rate of bacterial contamination of dental unit water highlights the need to disinfect and monitor the quality of DUWLs periodically.