본문 바로가기
  • Home
Basic Search

Infection control-related factors associated with microbial contamination in dental unit waterlines

  • Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
  • Abbr : J Korean Soc Dent Hyg
  • 2025, 25(5), 373-380
  • DOI : 10.13065/jksdh.2025.25.5.2
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Dental Hygiene
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Dentistry
  • Received : August 7, 2025
  • Accepted : September 6, 2025
  • Published : October 30, 2025

Cho Ju-Yeon 1,  Kim Geun-Yeong 2,  Sakong Joon 3,  Kim Eun-Kyong 4,  Park Eun-Young 5

1Department of Dentistry, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University
2Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Environment and Public Health Studies, Yeungnam University
3Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University
4Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University
5Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Although dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) could harbor biofilms that pose an infection risk to patients and staff, data on infection control factors related to the microbial contamination of DUWLs in Korea remains limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to analyze the microbial load in DUWL according to infection control factors using a survey. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 58 dental institutions for characteristics (chair number, daily patient load, and accreditation status) and infection-control status (written guidelines, designated managers, monitoring, and staff training). Simultaneously, we examined the microbial contamination levels of the high-speed handpieces and three-way air-water syringes via water sampling, expressing contamination as arithmetic and geometric means (GM)±geometric standard deviation (GSD). We used the Mann-Whitney U test to compare bacterial contamination according to institutional characteristics and infection control factors (p<0.05). Results: Overall GM contamination was 1,141 and 411 CFU/mL for high-speed handpieces and syringes, respectively, exceeding the CDC guideline of ≤500 CFU/mL. We observed significant differences in microbial loads according to the institution type, unit chair count, and average patient count. Moreover, the existence of infection control guidelines revealed significant effects. Conclusions: DUWL microbial quality varied according to the clinic size and infection control program quality. Institutions with detailed guidelines, routine surveillance, and skill-based training have achieved better microbial control. Standardized guidelines and incentivized training could help reduce infection control gaps, especially in small private clinics.

Statistics

  • 3 Viewed
  • 0 Downloaded

Tools

Issue List

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.

Basic Search Advanced Search