Search Results (18)

Background: Dental unit water lines (DUWLs) can harbor microbial contamination, posing risks for cross-infection to patients and dental staff. This study assessed the prevalence of bacterial contamination in DUWLs at primary healthcare centers in Kuwait during 2022–2023 and examined variation by year, governorate, and sampling outlet. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 3290 water test results from six governorates. Data were obtained from the Environmental Health Department, Ministry of Health, and analyzed using STATA 17. Contamination was defined as a total plate count (TPC) > 100 CFU/mL or presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or fecal streptococci. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Overall contamination prevalence was 16.8%. Rates were higher in 2023 (19.8%) than in 2022 (13.7%) and higher in Mubarak Alkabeer governorate (23%) and cup filler outlets (18.9%). Logistic regression showed significantly increased odds of contamination in 2023 (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3–2.0), Mubarak Alkabeer (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.9), and cup fillers (OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1–1.6). P. aeruginosa was detected in 1.3% of samples. Conclusions: One in six DUWL samples exceeded Kuwait’s strict microbial safety threshold. Findings highlight spatial and procedural variations in contamination and underscore the need for enhanced disinfection protocols, preventive maintenance, and targeted staff training to ensure waterline safety. Full article

Conditions in dental offices are conducive to Legionella pneumophila infections. This is mainly related to the use of a dental unit in the daily clinical work, which is the basic equipment of the office. Water discharged from the dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) and the working tips of the dental unit generates splatter/spatter and bioaerosol, constituting the main sources of potential infection and posing a health threat to both patients and professional dental staff. This article presents a narrative review on the presence and risk associated with Legionella spp., particularly the species L. pneumophila, in the dental office. This paper summarizes current knowledge and offers readers practical references, especially useful in everyday clinical dental practice. Full article

A Legionella pneumophila bacterium is ubiquitous in water distribution systems, including dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). Legionellosis is atypical pneumonia, including Legionnaires’ disease (LD) and the less acute form of Pontiac fever. Legionellosis occurs as a result of inhalation/aspiration of aerosolized Legionella-contaminated water by susceptible patients, health workers, and dentists. In this study, we undertook to determine the prevalence of Legionella in water and biofilm samples from Tap and DUWLs collected from five sites of dental clinics and faculties across the West Bank. Water samples were tested for physical and chemical parameters. The study samples included 185 samples, 89 (48%) water samples, and 96 (52%) biofilm swabs, which were analyzed by cultivation-dependent analysis (CDA) and by the cultivation-independent technique (CIA). Also, partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for fifteen L. pneumophila isolates was performed for quality assurance and identification. L. pneumophila was isolated from 28 (15%) of 185 samples using CDA and was detected in 142 (77%) of 185 samples using CIA. The abundance of culturable L. pneumophila was low in DUWL of the sampling sites (range: 27–115 CFU/Liter). PCR was 5× more sensitive than the culture technique. L. pneumophila Sg 1 was detected in (75%) of the isolates, while (25%) isolates were L. pneumophila Sg 2–14. All fifteen sequenced Legionella isolates were identified as L. pneumophila ≥ 94.5%. The analysis of phylogenetic tree showed that L. pneumophila branch clearly identified and distinguished from other branches. These results show that DUWLs of the examined dental clinics and faculties are contaminated with L. pneumophila. This finding reveals a serious potential health risk for infection of immunocompromised patients and dentists’ post-exposure. Full article

In dental clinics, the infections may be acquired through contaminated devices, air, and water. Aerosolized water may contain bacteria, grown into the biofilm of dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). We evaluated a disinfection method based on water osmosis and chlorination with chlorine dioxide (O-CD), applied to DUWL of five dental clinics. Municipal water was chlorinated with O-CD device before feeding all DUWLs. Samplings were performed on water/air samples in order to research total microbial counts at 22–37 °C, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella spp., and chlorine values. Water was collected from the taps, spittoons, and air/water syringes. Air was sampled before, during, and after 15 min of aerosolizing procedure. Legionella and P. aeruginosa resulted as absent in all water samples, which presented total microbial counts almost always at 0 CFU/mL. Mean values of total chlorine ranged from 0.18–0.23 mg/L. Air samples resulted as free from Legionella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Total microbial counts decreased from the pre-aerosolizing (mean 2.1 × 10² CFU/m³) to the post-aerosolizing samples (mean 1.5 × 10 CFU/m³), while chlorine values increased from 0 to 0.06 mg/L. O-CD resulted as effective against the biofilm formation in DUWLs. The presence of residual activity of chlorine dioxide also allowed the bacteria reduction from air, at least at one meter from the aerosolizing source. Full article

In modern dentistry, dental units are used for the treatment of patients’ teeth, and they need water to operate. Water circulates in a closed vessel system and finally reaches the mucous membranes of the patient as well as the dentist themselves. Therefore, the microbiological safety of this water should be a priority for physicians. This study aims to identify and determine the microbial count, expressed in CFU/mL, in water samples from various parts of the dental unit that are in direct contact with the patient. Thirty-four dental units located in dentistry rooms were analysed. The dentistry rooms were divided into three categories: surgical, conservative, and periodontal. It was found that in surgical rooms, the bacterial count was 1464.76 CFU/mL, and the most common bacterium was Staphylococcus pasteuri—23.88% of the total bacteria identified. In dentistry rooms where conservative treatments were applied, the average bacterial concentration was 8208.35 CFU/mL, and the most common bacterium was Ralsonia pickettii (26.31%). The periodontal rooms were also dominated by R. pickettii (45.13%), and the average bacterial concentration was 8743.08 CFU/mL. Fungi were also detected. Rhodotorula spp., Alternaria spp., and Candida parapsilosis were found to be the most common bacteria which are potentially harmful. This study indicates the need for effective decontamination of the water that is used in dental units and for constant monitoring of the level of contaminants present in the closed vessel system. Full article

Water in dental unit waterlines (DUWL) represents a risk for vulnerable patients if its microbiological quality is not controlled. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate two systems for its management under real conditions: Hygowater^® and IGN Calbenium^®. Samples of the output water of DUWL were obtained for 5 previously contaminated units connected to Hygowater^®, and 5 non-contaminated units connected to IGN Calbenium^®, which was already effective for more than 1 year, as a control group. Samples were regularly collected up to 6 months after the implementation of Hygowater^®, and were then cultured and analyzed. With IGN Calbenium^®, except for a technical problem and a sample result in one unit at 6 months (Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) at 37 °C of 66 colony forming units (cfu)/mL), the results showed an absence of contamination. Hygowater^® took a couple of weeks to be effective on initially contaminated DUWL (over 200 cfu/mL for all the units), then showed its efficacy for 2 months (HPC at 37 °C with a mean of 40.2 ufc/mL, and HPC at 22 °C with a mean of 0.2 ufc/mL). At 6 months, results were satisfactory for HPC at 22 °C (mean of 12 ufc/mL), but HPC at 37 °C gave non-satisfactory results for 4 of the 5 units (mean of 92.2 ufc/mL). Both systems have an effect on the microbiological quality of DUWL. IGN Calbenium^® appears to be more reliable on a long-term basis. Full article

Several studies have revealed that dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are often contaminated by large numbers of various micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses). Microbial contamination in DUWLs may originate from the mains water piped into the dental unit, the suck-back of patients’ saliva into the line due to the lack of adequate valves, and contamination from bottled water systems. Some of the main determinants of microbial contamination in DUWLs are: a very small lumen size (0.5–2 mm) of the tubing used, high surface-to-volume ratio (6:1), low throughput and the materials of which the tubing is made, water stagnation outside of working hours. The environmental conditions present inside the conduits of the dental unit may facilitate the proliferation of micro-organisms and the consequent formation of biofilm on the interior surface of the pipes of DUWLs. During the use of handpieces, particularly high-speed rotating instruments, a spray is thrown up in the form of aerosols or spatters containing biological material (saliva, blood and dental plaque) and micro-organisms. This means that the health of both dental staff and patients could be at risk of infection. The risk of cross-infections in dental settings can be tackled by implementing combined interventions to prevent the contamination of DUWLs. Full article

Introduction: Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs) have shown to be a source of Legionella infection. We report the experience of different dental healthcare settings where a risk management plan was implemented. Materials and methods: In a Hospital Odontostomatology Clinic (HOC) and three Private Dental Clinics (PDCs) housing 13 and six dental units (DUs), respectively, an assessment checklist was applied to evaluate staff compliance with guideline recommendations. DUWLs microbial parameters were investigated before and after the application of corrective actions. Results: In the HOC a poor adherence to good practices was demonstrated, whereas protocols were carefully applied in PDCs. L. pneumophila sg 2–15 was isolated in 31% (4/13) and 33% (2/6) of DUs in HOC and PDCs, respectively, mainly from handpieces (32%, 6/19) with counts >10² colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/L), often associated with P. aeruginosa (68%, 13/19). The shock disinfection with 3% v/v hydrogen peroxide (HP) showed a limited effect, with a recolonization period of about 4 weeks. Legionella was eradicated only after 6% v/v HP shock disinfection and filters-installation, whilst P. aeruginosa after the third shock disinfection with a solution of 4% v/v HP and biodegradable surfactants. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the presence and persistence of microbial contamination within the DUWLs, which required strict adherence to control measures and the choice of effective disinfectants. Full article

Biofilms in dental unit waterlines (DUWL) are a potentially significant source of contamination posing a significant health risk as these may come into contact with patients and dental staff during treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of DUWL water treated by Biofilm-Removing-System^® (BRS^®) and Alpron^®/Bilpron^® disinfectant solutions for six years in a French university hospital. The microbiological quality of water supplied by 68 dental units—initially shock treated with BRS^®, then continuously treated by Alpron^® with sterile water during working days and Bilpron^® during inactivity period, and combined with purging every morning and after each patient—was assessed biannually during six years for total culturable aerobic bacteria at 22 °C and 36 °C, Legionella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and total coliforms. A total of 628 samples were analyzed, 99.8% were compliant with extended microbiological levels, and we never detected pathogen bacteria like Legionella sp. and P. aeruginosa. Only one sample (0.2%) was noncompliant with the level of total culturable aerobic bacteria at 36 °C, which exceeded 140 colony forming units per mL. The protocol implemented in our university hospital gives excellent results and enables control of the microbiological quality of DUWL water in the long term. Full article

Three cases of severe odontogenic infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Venezuela that were directly associated with dental procedures and the finding of dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) in dental offices that were colonized with mycobacteria species was the reason for assessing the water quality of DUWLs in dental offices in two capital cities in South America, namely, Quito and Caracas. The main water supplies and the water from 143 DUWLs in both cities were sampled and especially checked for contamination with NTM. To measure the overall bacteriological quality of the water also the presence of heterotrophic bacteria, coliform bacteria, and Pseudomonas was determined. Results showed that respectively 3% and 56% of the DUWLs in Quito and Caracas yielded NTM species (up to 1000 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL). Furthermore, high and unacceptable total viable counts of heterotrophic bacteria and/or coliform bacteria and Pseudomonas were detected in 73% of the samples. We conclude that, in both cities, the water in the majority of DUWLs was contaminated with NTM and other potential pathogens, presenting a risk to human health. The detection of NTM in DUWL water with acceptable heterotrophic bacteria counts shows the need to include NTM in water quality testing. Mycobacteria are more resistant to disinfection procedures than other types of vegetative bacteria, and most testing protocols for DUWLs do not assess mycobacteria and thus do not guarantee risk-free water. Full article

Water is essential during dental care. Physical and chemical techniques should be used to maintain a good water quality with respect to bacteria, and to ensure the safety of exposed patients and dental staff. The aim of this survey was to assess the modalities used by dental practitioners in Eastern France to maintain the water quality of their dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). A questionnaire about water quality maintenance practices was sent to 870 dental offices in 2016. The questionnaires were completed by 153 dental offices, covering about 223 dental care units. The majority of units were fed by mains water (91.0%), which is generally unfiltered (71.3%). One-third (33.6%) of the units had an independent water bottle reservoir. Flushing, a basic physical technique to improve the quality of units’ outflow water, was practiced in 65.4% of dental offices. Concerning the chemical treatment of water, it was used for 62.1% of the units. An analysis of the microbiological quality of the DUWL water was only carried out in 2.6% of the offices. In conclusion, providing better training to dental staff seems necessary to improve their practices and to generalize procedures that improve the microbiological quality of the water used. Full article

Dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) can be considered one of the possible routes of H. pylori transmission, although its presence in DUWLs has not yet been investigated thoroughly. The present study aimed to discover the prevalence of H. pylori and oral streptococci (S. oralis and S. mutans) in DUWLs to evaluate the risk of exposure to human pathogens in dental practices. We collected the output water from 60 dental chair units (DCUs) in 26 private dentistry settings in Turin, searching for H. pylori and oral streptococci (OS) DNA, with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. At the same time, dentists completed a questionnaire about their DCUs, their main activities, the presence of anti-retraction devices, their attitudes about disinfection, etc. No dental chair unit tested was contaminated with H. pylori or S. mutans; only one dental chair was contaminated with S. oralis (1.7%). Considering the results, we can state that: (i) the lack of H. pylori DNA in water samples analyzed, suggests that municipal water is presumably treated with a sufficient chlorine level to inactivate DNA over time; (ii) the aspiration of oral fluids is limited by anti-retraction valves fitted distally to hand pieces; (iii) propidium monoazide qPCR (PMA-qPCR) could be a good technique to investigate and monitor potential environmental sources of infections such as DUWLs. Full article

Studies conducted over the last 40 years have demonstrated that the water output from dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) is often contaminated with high densities of microorganisms. It has been monitored the microbiological quality of the water in 30 public dental facilities in northern Italy in order to assess the health risk for patients and dental staff. In each facility, samples of water both from taps and from DUWLs were analyzed in order to evaluate heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) at 22 °C and 36 °C, and to detect coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila and amoebae. In 100% of the samples taken from the DUWLs, the concentration of HPCs was above the threshold as determined by the Ministère de la Santé et des Solidarités (2007). The concentration of P. aeruginosa was greater than the indicated threshold in 16.67% of the hand-pieces analyzed. A total of 78.33% of samples were contaminated by L. pneumophila, while in the samples taken from the DUWLs alone, this percentage rose to 86.67%. Amoebae were detected in 60% of the samples taken from hand-pieces; all belonging to the species V. vermiformis. This study documented the presence of various microorganisms, including Legionella spp., at considerably higher concentrations in water samples from DUWLs than in samples of tap water in the same facilities, confirming the role of the internal DUWLs in increasing microbial contamination, especially in the absence of proper management of waterborne health risks. Full article

Introduction: Dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are notorious for being contaminated with different bacterial species including the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa which poses a risk to patients and professionals. This work aimed at studying the occurrence and biofilm-forming ability (BFA) of P. aeruginosa in the output of DUWLs in a dental center in Egypt. Methods: Water samples were collected from the outlets of the high-speed hand piece, the air/water syringe and the cup filler waterlines. Bacteriological analysis included heterotrophic plate count (HPC), isolation and identification of P. aeruginosa and determination of the antimicrobial susceptibility and the BFA of the isolates by tissue culture plate (TCP) method and tube method (TM). Results: The average concentration of HPC bacteria in the output of the 3 DUWLs was 2.9 × 10⁴ CFU/μL where 88.3% of the samples exceeded the Egyptian standards for drinking water (<50 CFU L). P. aeruginosa was isolated from nine cup filler samples (which had a water source different from the other waterlines). The isolates were sensitive to all tested antimicrobials. Of these nine isolates, 6, 5 and 4 were positive for BFA by TCP, modified TCP and TM, respectively. Conclusions: More stringent measures are required to ensure safer dental water; as the majority of studied samples exceeded the required HPC bacterial limit and P. aeruginosa isolates were detected. P. aeruginosa isolates from DUWLs may not be as resistant to antibiotics as what is reported in the literature about clinical isolates. Some P. aeruginosa isolates can colonize DUWLs despite their inability to form biofilms in experimental testing. Full article

Infection risk management in a dental unit waterline (DUWL) involves healthcare personnel and patients and is related to routine exposure to water and aerosols that may contain bacterial species. To improve water safety plans, maintenance, and sanitation procedures, analyses of heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) at 36 °C, and two other microorganisms frequently associated with biofilms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella spp., were performed in order to evaluate differences in microbiological contamination between two types of DUWLs: Type A, provided by a water tank, and Type B, directly connected to municipal water. The data showed that the water supply and water safety plan differentially influenced microbiological contamination: Type A DUWLs were more contaminated than Type B DUWLs for all microbiological parameters tested, with significant changes in the percentage of positive samples and contamination levels that were beyond the limits of standard guidelines. The results obtained show how the storage tank, the absence of anti-retraction valves, and the disinfection procedures performed are the main critical points of Type A DUWLs, which confirms that dental unit management (maintenance/sanitization) is often missed or not correctly applied by stakeholders, with an underestimation of the real risk of infection for patients and operators. Full article