Microbiological evaluation of dental unit water systems in general dental practice in europe


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Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts ABSTRACT In 7 European countries, about half of tested units had significant levels of contamination. MAIN Walker JT.


Bradshaw DJ _et al_. _Eur J Oral Sci_ 2004; 112: 412–418 Dental unit water supplies (DUWS) in dental hospitals can harbour a variety of opportunistic pathogens, including _Legionella_,


_Mycobacterium_, _Pseudomonas_ and _Candida_. However, little is known about the risks in general dental practice. In this study 237 representative DUWS were examined in the UK, Ireland,


Greece, Spain, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. In source water, median bacterial counts were significantly lower in UK, Spain and Ireland than in Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands,


with Germany in between these 2 groups. Total viable counts (TVC) in DUWS water lines was significantly lower in Spain than other countries. In air rotor lines, TVCs were lowest in Spain and


highest in the Netherlands. _Legionella_ was identified in some Danish and Spanish samples and Greek biofilm samples, but not in other countries; _Mycobacterium_ was present in high


quantities in Danish and Greek samples, but completely absent only in the UK. Blood traces were detected in about 1/5 of samples in Greece and Ireland, but were absent in other countries.


The authors consider it unsatisfactory that half of all units exceeded the current ADA limit for bacterial contamination. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE


CITE THIS ARTICLE Microbiological evaluation of dental unit water systems in general dental practice in Europe. _Br Dent J_ 198, 691 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4812386 Download


citation * Published: 11 June 2005 * Issue Date: 11 June 2005 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4812386 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read


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