Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa
Background: Biofilm formation in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) and the consequent microbial contamination of dental chair unit (DCU) water is a significant challenge. The South African government has no explicit requirements for water quality supplied to DCUs or for disinfection protocols for DUWLs...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Dental Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924016435 |
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| author | Chantal Bronwyn Kader Olga de Smidt Jeanné Oosthuysen |
| author_facet | Chantal Bronwyn Kader Olga de Smidt Jeanné Oosthuysen |
| author_sort | Chantal Bronwyn Kader |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Biofilm formation in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) and the consequent microbial contamination of dental chair unit (DCU) water is a significant challenge. The South African government has no explicit requirements for water quality supplied to DCUs or for disinfection protocols for DUWLs. Aim: To assess bacterial water quality and presence of biofilm-associated organisms in DUWLs of open and closed system DCUs. Methods: Standard water sampling was followed in accordance with the South African National Standard for drinking water (SANS 241:1) and used as reference for microbial water quality to measure heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) and total coliforms for possible water contamination. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella spp. are common opportunistic pathogens found in DUWL and were also assessed using selective media. Results: HPC exceeded the national standard of <10 × 103 CFU mL−1 in water from both open and closed systems (1.48-6.94 × 104 CFU mL−1 and 1.71 × 104 CFU mL−1). P. aeruginosa was detected in fast handpieces, reservoir bottles, and distiller bottles of closed system DCUs. Legionella spp. (22 CFU mL−1) were present in the output water from one fast handpiece of an open system DCU. Internal surfaces of taps, fast handpieces, distiller bottles and reservoir bottles also exhibited mean HPC counts which exceeded the national standard. Total coliforms were identified in the fast handpieces of open system DCUs (5.09 × 103 CFU 100 mL−1) and distiller bottles (6.23 × 103 CFU 100 mL−1) of closed systems. P. aeruginosa (3.64 × 104 CFU mL−1), was detected on the internal surfaces of the municipal tap supplying water to open system DCUs as well as, internal surfaces of reservoir bottles (5.9 × 101 CFU 100 mL−1) and fast handpieces (1.5×101 CFU 100 mL−1) of closed system DCUs. Conclusion: Contamination levels of DUWL water and surfaces of open and closed system DCUs were high, highlighting the need for national regulations of DUWL quality and decontamination protocols in South Africa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88b6447930cd45e9a83bd5d1b62dfe76 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0020-6539 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Dental Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-88b6447930cd45e9a83bd5d1b62dfe762025-08-20T02:28:40ZengElsevierInternational Dental Journal0020-65392025-06-017532132214910.1016/j.identj.2024.12.025Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South AfricaChantal Bronwyn Kader0Olga de Smidt1Jeanné Oosthuysen2Centre for Applied Food Sustainability and -Biotechnology (CAFSaB), Central University of Technology (CUT), Bloemfontein, South AfricaCentre for Applied Food Sustainability and -Biotechnology (CAFSaB), Central University of Technology (CUT), Bloemfontein, South Africa; Corresponding author. Olga de Smidt, Centre for Applied Food Sustainability and -Biotechnology (CAFSaB), Central University of Technology (CUT), 1 Park Rd, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa.Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM), Central University of Technology (CUT), Bloemfontein, South AfricaBackground: Biofilm formation in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) and the consequent microbial contamination of dental chair unit (DCU) water is a significant challenge. The South African government has no explicit requirements for water quality supplied to DCUs or for disinfection protocols for DUWLs. Aim: To assess bacterial water quality and presence of biofilm-associated organisms in DUWLs of open and closed system DCUs. Methods: Standard water sampling was followed in accordance with the South African National Standard for drinking water (SANS 241:1) and used as reference for microbial water quality to measure heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) and total coliforms for possible water contamination. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella spp. are common opportunistic pathogens found in DUWL and were also assessed using selective media. Results: HPC exceeded the national standard of <10 × 103 CFU mL−1 in water from both open and closed systems (1.48-6.94 × 104 CFU mL−1 and 1.71 × 104 CFU mL−1). P. aeruginosa was detected in fast handpieces, reservoir bottles, and distiller bottles of closed system DCUs. Legionella spp. (22 CFU mL−1) were present in the output water from one fast handpiece of an open system DCU. Internal surfaces of taps, fast handpieces, distiller bottles and reservoir bottles also exhibited mean HPC counts which exceeded the national standard. Total coliforms were identified in the fast handpieces of open system DCUs (5.09 × 103 CFU 100 mL−1) and distiller bottles (6.23 × 103 CFU 100 mL−1) of closed systems. P. aeruginosa (3.64 × 104 CFU mL−1), was detected on the internal surfaces of the municipal tap supplying water to open system DCUs as well as, internal surfaces of reservoir bottles (5.9 × 101 CFU 100 mL−1) and fast handpieces (1.5×101 CFU 100 mL−1) of closed system DCUs. Conclusion: Contamination levels of DUWL water and surfaces of open and closed system DCUs were high, highlighting the need for national regulations of DUWL quality and decontamination protocols in South Africa.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924016435Dental unit waterlinesWater qualityBiofilmContaminationMicroorganisms |
| spellingShingle | Chantal Bronwyn Kader Olga de Smidt Jeanné Oosthuysen Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa International Dental Journal Dental unit waterlines Water quality Biofilm Contamination Microorganisms |
| title | Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa |
| title_full | Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa |
| title_short | Water Quality and Biofilm Formation in Dental Unit Waterline Systems in Mangaung, South Africa |
| title_sort | water quality and biofilm formation in dental unit waterline systems in mangaung south africa |
| topic | Dental unit waterlines Water quality Biofilm Contamination Microorganisms |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924016435 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chantalbronwynkader waterqualityandbiofilmformationindentalunitwaterlinesystemsinmangaungsouthafrica AT olgadesmidt waterqualityandbiofilmformationindentalunitwaterlinesystemsinmangaungsouthafrica AT jeanneoosthuysen waterqualityandbiofilmformationindentalunitwaterlinesystemsinmangaungsouthafrica |