A survey of infection control teaching in U.S. dental schools.

This study was conducted to determine the content of infection control (IC) curricula, the extent of IC monitoring and compliance, and the number of bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposures/year in U.S. dental schools.

The effect of frequent clinical use of dental unit waterlines on contamination.

Three dental units with self-contained water systems in an outpatient teaching dental clinic were treated with a proprietary chlorine dioxide waterline cleaner. Three similar units were used as controls. After four weeks, test and control units were crossed over.

Tuberculosis: infection control/exposure control issues for oral healthcare workers.

Aim: The aim is to present the essential elements of an infection control/exposure control plan for the oral healthcare setting with emphasis on tuberculosis (TB).

Methods And Materials: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted with special emphasis on TB infection-control issues in the oral healthcare setting.

Results: Currently available knowledge related to TB infection-control issues is supported by data derived from well-conducted trials or extensive controlled observations.

Measuring the validity of two in-office water test kits.

Background: The authors conducted a study to determine the validity of two commercially available in-office water test kits compared with a spread plate technique using the gold standard dehydrated culture medium R2A agar for monitoring the quality of dental treatment water.

Methods: Over a 12-week period, one author monitored nine dental units in a dental school that each were equipped with an independent water reservoir. The author collected 351 split samples, cultured them using three test methods, counted bacterial colonies manually and assessed validity using two cutoff values: < or = 200 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) (an American Dental Association goal) and < or = 500 CFU/mL (a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] recommendation and a U.

Reduction of bacterial levels in dental unit waterlines.

Objectives: To test the efficacy of an intermittent use, dental unit waterline cleaner, containing 0.12% chlorhexidine, in a proprietary formulation, to reduce bacterial levels in three functioning dental units with independent water reservoir systems.

Method And Materials: Baseline water samples were first taken from six units.

The efficacy of a continuous-use stabilized chlorine dioxide dental unit waterline cleaner and the evaluation of two water sampling methods.

Many commercial dental unit waterline cleaners are available. Results regarding the efficacy of these products vary and sampling methods and laboratory procedures can affect results. This study was conducted to test the efficacy of a continuous-use stabilized chlorine dioxide product and determine if two different sampling methods produced the same results.

Isolation of an unusual fungus in treated dental unit waterlines.

Background: Numerous organisms have been identified in dental unit waterlines, or DUWLs. Decontamination of DUWLs focuses on maintaining heterotrophic, mesophilic bacteria below 200 colony-forming units per milliliter as recommended by the ADA.

Methods: The authors conducted a study to test the efficacy of a continuous-use, stabilized chlorine dioxide proprietary compound to decrease the number of bacteria in DUWLs.