The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

DUWL—WHAT ARE THEY?

AND WHAT MUST YOU DO ABOUT THEM?

Every dental office must keep Dental Unit Water Lines lines clean and free of colonized bacteria to assure a safe environment for patients and all who work there. DUWLs can contain biofilm, a bacteria colonization that puts patients, particularly the very young, elderly, or immunocompromised, at risk. Additionally, team members repeatedly exposed to contaminated water from the lines in your office may be put at risk.

The microorganisms most likely to form in waterlines and cause diseases are Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and nontuberculous Mycobacterium. These bacteria and deposits like hard water scale, salts and other minerals multiply inside small-diameter water tubing where low flow rates and periods of stagnation create the perfect environment for them to flourish.

Two federal regulations emphasize the importance of using the correct cleaning and disinfecting agents and processes as part of a regular disinfecting routine practiced in every dental office:

• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) advises that any device to be used in a patient's mouth should first be connected to a DUWL and flushed for at least 20 seconds before use. Does the water in your waterlines clean or contaminate the instrument you are about to put into your patient's mouth?
• The EPA (Environment Protection Agency) sets specifications for drinking water of less than 500 colony forming units per milliliter of heterotrophic water bacteria (CFU/mL HPC). To make certain water in your office meets this standard, your staff should be trained to use a water testing kit or your practice should employ the services of a mail-in water testing service.

There are a number of excellent disinfecting agents available that can remove waterline buildup without damaging equipment or reducing suction. Contact your dental unit manufacturer for recommendations of the most effective brands and methods for maintaining safe water in your DUWLs.

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