Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India
Background and Aim: Biofilms in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs), suction hoses, and fittings are a potentially significant source of cross-contamination posing significant health risk as these may come into contact with patients during treatment. The purpose of this in vitro study was to identify the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | Indian Journal of Dental Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2017;volume=28;issue=5;spage=555;epage=559;aulast=Rodrigues |
| _version_ | 1818192511195152384 |
|---|---|
| author | Shobha Rodrigues Shivani Suvarna Jyoti Suvarna Vishwas Saralaya Sharon Saldanha Vidya K Shenoy |
| author_facet | Shobha Rodrigues Shivani Suvarna Jyoti Suvarna Vishwas Saralaya Sharon Saldanha Vidya K Shenoy |
| author_sort | Shobha Rodrigues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Aim: Biofilms in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs), suction hoses, and fittings are a potentially significant source of cross-contamination posing significant health risk as these may come into contact with patients during treatment. The purpose of this in vitro study was to identify the spectrum of bacterial flora colonizing the DUWLs and to detect pathogenic microorganisms present in such an environmental niche. Materials and Methods: Thirty DUWL samples were collected from in use dental units selected randomly from various clinical departments. Samples were collected from the following devices; 3-in-1 syringe waterline, section of waterline tubing supplying the 3-in-1 syringe, and the air rotor water. The samples were subjected to bacteriological analysis, and all bacterial isolates were tested for their ability to form biofilms. Results: A descriptive analysis of the results obtained was carried out, and it was observed that 7 out of 30 (23.3%) samples collected from DUWL were supplying water of unsatisfactory quality with species of low-pathogenicity bacteria isolated present in significant numbers; four of ten (40%) water supply lines contained bacterial biofilms; and the species with greatest capability to form biofilms were Enterobacter species (spp.). In addition, the results were also subjected to Chi-square test which revealed no statistical difference between the species and the location of collection of samples. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that DUWLs are not totally free of contamination. Microbial biofilms are a significant source of cross-contamination and cross-infection in the dental clinic environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:31:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df11d568bad94a1ba48477232f39b6d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0970-9290 1998-3603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:31:40Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Dental Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-df11d568bad94a1ba48477232f39b6d52022-12-22T00:44:28ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Dental Research0970-92901998-36032017-01-0128555555910.4103/ijdr.IJDR_775_16Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South IndiaShobha RodriguesShivani SuvarnaJyoti SuvarnaVishwas SaralayaSharon SaldanhaVidya K ShenoyBackground and Aim: Biofilms in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs), suction hoses, and fittings are a potentially significant source of cross-contamination posing significant health risk as these may come into contact with patients during treatment. The purpose of this in vitro study was to identify the spectrum of bacterial flora colonizing the DUWLs and to detect pathogenic microorganisms present in such an environmental niche. Materials and Methods: Thirty DUWL samples were collected from in use dental units selected randomly from various clinical departments. Samples were collected from the following devices; 3-in-1 syringe waterline, section of waterline tubing supplying the 3-in-1 syringe, and the air rotor water. The samples were subjected to bacteriological analysis, and all bacterial isolates were tested for their ability to form biofilms. Results: A descriptive analysis of the results obtained was carried out, and it was observed that 7 out of 30 (23.3%) samples collected from DUWL were supplying water of unsatisfactory quality with species of low-pathogenicity bacteria isolated present in significant numbers; four of ten (40%) water supply lines contained bacterial biofilms; and the species with greatest capability to form biofilms were Enterobacter species (spp.). In addition, the results were also subjected to Chi-square test which revealed no statistical difference between the species and the location of collection of samples. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that DUWLs are not totally free of contamination. Microbial biofilms are a significant source of cross-contamination and cross-infection in the dental clinic environment.http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2017;volume=28;issue=5;spage=555;epage=559;aulast=RodriguesBiofilmsdental unit waterlineswater quality |
| spellingShingle | Shobha Rodrigues Shivani Suvarna Jyoti Suvarna Vishwas Saralaya Sharon Saldanha Vidya K Shenoy Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India Indian Journal of Dental Research Biofilms dental unit waterlines water quality |
| title | Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India |
| title_full | Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India |
| title_fullStr | Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India |
| title_short | Microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in Karnataka, South India |
| title_sort | microbial assessment of dental unit waterlines in an institutional setup in karnataka south india |
| topic | Biofilms dental unit waterlines water quality |
| url | http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2017;volume=28;issue=5;spage=555;epage=559;aulast=Rodrigues |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shobharodrigues microbialassessmentofdentalunitwaterlinesinaninstitutionalsetupinkarnatakasouthindia AT shivanisuvarna microbialassessmentofdentalunitwaterlinesinaninstitutionalsetupinkarnatakasouthindia AT jyotisuvarna microbialassessmentofdentalunitwaterlinesinaninstitutionalsetupinkarnatakasouthindia AT vishwassaralaya microbialassessmentofdentalunitwaterlinesinaninstitutionalsetupinkarnatakasouthindia AT sharonsaldanha microbialassessmentofdentalunitwaterlinesinaninstitutionalsetupinkarnatakasouthindia AT vidyakshenoy microbialassessmentofdentalunitwaterlinesinaninstitutionalsetupinkarnatakasouthindia |