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Clinical Literature Review
  Clinical Literature Review


Reviews of Microbial Biofilms
Costerton JW, Cheng KJ, Geesey GG, et al. Bacterial biofilms in nature and disease. Ann Rev Microbiol 1987;41:435-64.

Marshall KC. Biofilms: An overview of bacterial adhesion, activity, and control at surfaces. ASM News 1992;58:202-7.


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Reviews of Bacteria Associated Endotoxin
Martich GD, Boujoukos AJ et al, Response of man to endotoxin. Immonobiol 1993;187:403-16.

Burrell R, Cirulatory Shock 1994; 43:137-53.

Hochstein HD, Fitzgerald EA et al, Properties of US standard endotoxin (EC-5) in human volunteers. Journal of Endotoxin in Research 1994; 1: 52-56.


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Comprehensive Reviews of Biofilm Contamination of Dental Unit Waterlines
Pankhurst CL. Johnson NW et al, Microbial Contamination of dental unit waterlines: The Scientific Arguement. International Dental Journal 1998; 48:359-368.

Miller CH. Microbes in dental unit water. Calif Dent Assoc J 1996;24:47-52.

Shearer BG. Biofilm and the dental office. JADA 1996;127:181-9.

Pankhurst CL, Philpott-Howard JN. The microbiological quality of water in dental chair units. J Hosp Infect 1993;23:167-74.


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Worldwide Reports of Bacterial Contamination in Dental Unit Waterlines

Austria

Reinthaler FF and Mascher F, Legionella pneumophila in dental units. Zbl Bakt Hyg B 183:86-8, 1986.

Canada

Whitehouse RLS, Peters E et al, Influence of biofilms on microbial contamination in dental unit water. J Dent 19:290-5, 1991.

Denmark

Kelstrup J, Funder-Nielsenm TD and Theilade J, Microbial aggregate contamination of water lines in dental equipment and its control. Acta Path Microbiol Scand 85 (sect B):177-83, 1977.

England

Blake GC, The incidence and control of bacterial infection of dental units and ultrasonic scalers. Br Dent J 115:413-16, 1963

Clark A, Bacterial colonization of dental units and the nasal flora of dental personnel. Proc Roy Soc Med 67:1269-70, 1974.

Kellett M and Holbrook WP, Bacterial contamination of dental handpieces. J Dent 8:249-53, 1980.

Fitzgibbon EJ, Bartzokas CA et al, the source, frequency and extent of bacterial contaminations of dental water systems. Br Dent J 157:98-101, 1984.

Martin MV, The significance of the bacterial contamination of the dental unit water systems. Br Dent J 163:15204, 1987.

Challacombe SJ, and Fernandes LL, Detecting Legionella pneumophila in water systems: A comparison of various dental units. JADA 126:603-8, 1985.

Germany

Michel R, and Borneff M, Significance of amoeba and other protozoa in water conduit systems of dental units. Zbl Bakt Hyg B 187:130-52, 1982.

New Zealand

Tippett BF, Edwards JL and Jenkinson HF, Bacterial contamination of dental unit water lines- a possible source of cross-infection. N Z Dent J 84:112-3.

United States

Abel LC, Miller RL et al, Studies on dental aerobiology: IV. Bacterial contamination of water delivered by dental units. J Dent Res 50(6):1567-9, 1971.

Gross A, Devine MJ and Cutright DE, Microbial contamination of dental units and ultrasonic scalers. Periodontol 47:670-3, 1976.

Bagga BSR, Murphy RA et al, Contamination of dental unit cooling water with oral microorganisms and its prevention. JADA 109:712-16, 1984.

Scheid RC, Rosen S and Beck FM, Reduction of CFUs in high-speed handpiece water lines over time. Clin Prev Dent 12(2):9-11, 1990.

Mayo JA, Oertling KM et al, Bacterial biofilm: A source of contamination in dental air-water syringes. Clin Prev Dent 12(2):13-20, 1990.

Williams JF, Johnston AM et al, Microbial contamination of dental unit waterlines. JADA 124:59-65, 1993.

Williams HN, Kelley J et al, Assessing microbial contamination in clean water dental units and compliance with disinfection protocol. JADA 125:1205-11, 1994.

Murdoch-Kinch CA, Andrews NL et al, Comparison of dental water quality management procedures. JADA 128: 1235-43, 1997.


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Reports of Opportunistic Human Pathogens in Dental Unit Waterlines

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Mayo JA, Oertling KM et al, Bacterial biofilm: A source of contamination in dental air-water syringes. Clin Prev Dent 12(2):13-20, 1990.

Williams JF, Johnston AM et al, Microbial contamination of dental unit waterlines. JADA 124:59-65, 1993.

Blake GC, The incidence and control of bacterial infection of dental units and ultrasonic scalers. Br Dent J 115:413-16, 1963

Kellett M and Holbrook WP, Bacterial contamination of dental handpieces. J Dent 8:249-53, 1980.

Fitzgibbon EJ, Bartzokas CA et al, The source, frequency and extent of bacterial contaminations of dental water systems. Br Dent J 157:98-101, 1984.

Martin MV, The significance of the bacterial contamination of the dental unit water systems. Br Dent J 163:15204, 1987.

Tippett BF, Edwards JL and Jenkinson HF, Bacterial contamination of dental unit water lines- a possible source of cross-infection. N Z Dent J 84:112-3.

Rosen S, Ramos E et al, Pathogenic microflora in the water lines leading to the dental handpiece. Transmissions 9 (2) (abstract):2, 1994.

Legionella pneumophila

Williams JF, Johnston AM et al, Microbial contamination of dental unit waterlines. JADA 124:59-65, 1993.

Challacombe SJ, and Fernandes LL, Detecting Legionella pneumophila in water systems: A comparison of various dental units. JADA 126:603-8, 1985.

Reinthaler FF and Mascher F, Legionella pneumophila in dental units. Zbl Bakt Hyg B 183:86-8, 1986.

Oppenheim BA, Sefton AM et al, Widespread Legionella pneumophila contamination of dental stations in a dental school without apparent human infection. Epid Inf 99:159-66, 1987.

Luck PC, Bender L et al, Analysis of a hospital ward warm water supply over a three-year period using genomic long-range mapping techniques and monoclonal antibodies. Appl Environ Microbiol 57:3226-31, 1991.

Rosen S, Ramos E et al, Pathogenic microflora in the water lines leading to the dental handpiece. Transmissions 9 (2) (abstract):2, 1994.

Atlas RM, Williams JF et al, Legionella contamination of dental-unit waters. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:1208-13, 1995.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Williams JF, Johnston AM et al, Microbial contamination of dental unit waterlines. JADA 124:59-65, 1993.

Furuhashi M and Miyamae T, Prevention of bacterial contamination of water in dental units. J Hosp Infect 6:81-8, 1985.


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Dental Occupational Health Risks Associated with Bacteria Contamination in Dental Unit Waterlines

High rates of upper respiratory infections

Burton WE and Miller RL, The role of aerobiology in dentistry, p. 87-94. In first international symposium on aerobiology. Naval Biology Laboratory, Naval Supply Center, University of California, Berkley.

Cuthbertson WC, Causes of death among dentists: a comparison with the general male population. J Calif, Nev, State Dent Soc 30:159-60, 1954.

Scheid RC, Kim CK et al, Reduction of microbes in handpieces by flushing before use.

Rates of seropositivity for legionella antibodies among dental professionals higher than general population

Fotos PG, Westfall HN et al, Prevalence of Legionella-specific IgG and IgM antibody in a dental clinic population. J Dent Res 64:382-5, 1985.

Reinthaler FF, Mascher F et al, Serological examinations for antibodies against Legionella species in dental personnel. J Dent Res 67:942-3, 1988.

Luck PC, Bender L et al, Analysis of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6 strains isolated from dental units. In:Barnaree JM, Breiman RF, Dufour AP, eds. Legionella: current status and emerging perspectives. Washington, D.C.:American Society of Microbiology; 1993:240.

Transmission of pathogenic bacteria to patients and workers

Martin MV, The significance of the bacterial contamination of the dental unit water systems. Br Dent J 163:15204, 1987.

Clark A, Bacterial colonization of dental units and the nasal flora of dental personnel. Proc Roy Soc Med 67:1269-70, 1974.

Ely EW, Stump TE et al, Thoracic complications of dental surgical procedures: hazards of the dental drill. Am J Med 95:456-65, 1993.

Dental unit water associated pseudomonas infections

Martin MV, The significance of the bacterial contamination of the dental unit water systems. Br Dent J 163:15204, 1987.

Slots JD, Feik D et al, Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Acinetobacter in human periodontitis. Oral Microbiol. Immunol. 5:149-54, 1990.

Dental water associated legionella infections

Luck PC, Bender L et al, Analysis of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6 strains isolated from dental units. In:Barnaree JM, Breiman RF, Dufour AP, eds. Legionella: current status and emerging perspectives. Washington, D.C.:American Society of Microbiology; 1993:240.

Atlas RM, Williams JF et al, Legionella contamination of dental-unit waters. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:1208-13, 1995.

Challacombe SJ, and Fernandes LL, Detecting Legionella pneumophila in water systems: A comparison of various dental units. JADA 126:603-8, 1985.

Mackenzie CD, Huntington MK et al, Legionella contamination in dental water lines: An associated fatality in a dentist. (abstract) FASEB J 1994.

Dental water associated non-tuberculous mycobacterium infections

Wallace JR, Swenson JM et al, Spectrum of disease due to rapidly growing mycobacteria. Rev Infect Dis 5: 657-679, 1983.

Lohr DC, Goeken JA et al, Mycobacterium gordonae infection of a prosthetic aortic valve. JAMA 239: 1528-1530, 1978.


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Ineffective and/or Unsafe Methods to Control Dental Unit Waterline Contamination

Waterline flushing is ineffective method to control bacterial contamination

Gross A, Devine MJ and Cutright DE, Microbial contamination of dental units and ultrasonic scalers. Periodontol 47:670-3, 1976.

Santiago JI, Huntington MK et al, Microbial contamination of dental unit water lines: short and long-term effects of flushing. Gen Den 45:528-535, 1994.

Williams HN, Quimby H et al, Evaluation and use of a low nutrient medium and reduced incubation temperature to study bacterial contamination in the water supply of dental units. Can J Microbiol 40:127-131, 1994.

Chlorine treatments do not remove existing biofilm

Whitehouse RLS, Peters E et al, Influence of biofilms on microbial contamination in dental unit water. J Dent 19:290-5, 1991.

Bacteria develop resistance to high levels of chlorine

Kutcha JM, States SJ et al, Susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila to chlorine in tap water. Appl Environ Microbiol 46:1134-1139, 1983.

King CH, Shotts EB et al, Survival of coliforms and bacterial pathogens within protozoa during chlorination. Appl Environ Microbiol 54:3023-3033, 1988.

Reasoner DJ, Geldreich EE, A new medium for the enumeration and subculture of bacteria from potable water. Appl Environ Microbiol 49: 1-7, 1985.

Fields BS, Legionella and protozoa: interaction of a pathogen and its natural host. In: Barbarea JM, Brieman RF, Dufour AP, eds. Legionella, current status and emerging perspectives. Washington, D.C.:American Society of Microbiology; 1993:129-36.

DeBeer D, Srinivasan R et al, Direct measurement of chlorine penetration into biofilms during disinfection. Appl Environ Microbiol 60:4339-4344, 1994.

Pankhurst CL, Philpott-Howard JN et al, The efficacy of chlorination and filtration in the control and eradication of Legionella from dental chair water systems. J Host Infect 16: 9-18, 1990.

Biofilm bacteria are 3,000 times less susceptible to chlorine treatment

LeChevallier MW, Cawthon CD et al, Factors promoting survival of bacteria in chlorinated water supplies. Appl Environ Microbiol 54:649-654, 1988.

Chlorine reacts with biofilm material and produces high levels of carcinogenic trihalomethanes not allowed in drinking water

Puttaiah R, Siebert J et al, Release of disinfection by-products during NaOCL use on contaminated dental unit water systems. OSAP June 1998, abstract presentation.

Murca PW, Victor L et al, Disinfection of water distribution systems for Legionella: A review of application procedures and methodologies. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 11: 79-88, 1990.

Edelstein PH, Control of legionella in hospitals. J Hospt Infect 11(Suppl A): 182-188, 1988.

Hoffman PN, Death JE et al, The stability of sodium hypochlorite solutions. In: Collins CH, Allwood MC,Bloomfield SF, Fox A, eds. Disinfectants: Their use and evaluation of effectiveness. London: Academic Press:77-83, 1981.

Control of Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water. Final rule. Fed Reg Nov. 29 1979, 44:231:68624.


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