Effect of Different Disinfection Protocols on Microbial and Biofilm Contamination of Dental Unit Waterlines in Community Dental Practices

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Laura Dallolio¹  Amalia Scuderi⁴  Maria S. Rini⁴  Sabrina Valente³  Patrizia Farruggia⁴  Maria A. Bucci Sabattini²  Gianandrea Pasquinelli³  Anna Acacci⁴  Greta Roncarati⁴ 

[1] Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via S. Giacomo 12, Bologna 40126, Italy; E-Mail:;Bologna Provincial Division, Agency for Environmental Protection and Health Prevention in Emilia-Romagna, via Triachini 17, Bologna 40138, Italy; E-Mail:;Department of Specialized, Experimental, and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; E-Mails:;Unit of Hygiene and Quality of Residencial Services, Bologna Local Health Authority, Bellaria Hospital, via Altura 3, Bologna 40139, Italy; E-Mails:

关键词: dental unit waterlines;    water disinfection;    biofilm;    peracetic acid;    hydrogen peroxide;    chlorine dioxide;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph110202064

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Output water from dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) may be a potential source of infection for both dental healthcare staff and patients. This study compared the efficacy of different disinfection methods with regard to the water quality and the presence of biofilm in DUWLs. Five dental units operating in a public dental health care setting were selected. The control dental unit had no disinfection system; two were disinfected intermittently with peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide 0.26% and two underwent continuous disinfection with hydrogen peroxide/silver ions (0.02%) and stabilized chlorine dioxide (0.22%), respectively. After three months of applying the disinfection protocols, continuous disinfection systems were more effective than intermittent systems in reducing the microbial contamination of the water, allowing compliance with the CDC guidelines and the European Council regulatory thresholds for drinking water. P. aeruginosa, Legionella spp, sulphite-reducing Clostridium spores, S. aureus and β-haemolytic streptococci were also absent from units treated with continuous disinfection. The biofilm covering the DUWLs was more extensive, thicker and more friable in the intermittent disinfection dental units than in those with continuous disinfection. Overall, the findings showed that the products used for continuous disinfection of dental unit waterlines showed statistically better results than the intermittent treatment products under the study conditions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.