Biomaterial Database

Dental unit water contamination. 1996

E Peters, and W T McGaw

Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, University of Alberta.

Bacteria-laden biofilms located on the lumen surface of dental unit water lines have resulted in the persistent and widespread microbial contamination of dental unit water supplies. These biofilms are resistant to chemical disinfection. As such, they act as reservoirs that facilitate the continuous re-contamination of dental unit water. The microbial populations of the biofilms found in dental unit water lines include opportunistic pathogens of unknown significance. Strategies to control the contamination are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009894	Opportunistic Infections	An infection caused by an organism which becomes pathogenic under certain conditions, e.g., during immunosuppression.	Infection, Opportunistic,Infections, Opportunistic,Opportunistic Infection
D003748	Dental Equipment	The nonexpendable items used by the dentist or dental staff in the performance of professional duties. (From Boucher's Clinical Dental Terminology, 4th ed, p106)	Equipment, Dental,Dental Equipments,Equipments, Dental
D004202	Disinfectants	Substances used on inanimate objects that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. Disinfectants are classed as complete, destroying SPORES as well as vegetative forms of microorganisms, or incomplete, destroying only vegetative forms of the organisms. They are distinguished from ANTISEPTICS, which are local anti-infective agents used on humans and other animals. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed)	Biocide,Disinfectant,Biocides
D004203	Disinfection	Rendering pathogens harmless through the use of heat, antiseptics, antibacterial agents, etc.
D004866	Equipment Contamination	The presence of an infectious agent on instruments, prostheses, or other inanimate articles.	Contamination, Equipment,Contaminations, Equipment,Equipment Contaminations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001419	Bacteria	One of the three domains of life (the others being Eukarya and ARCHAEA), also called Eubacteria. They are unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which generally possess rigid cell walls, multiply by cell division, and exhibit three principal forms: round or coccal, rodlike or bacillary, and spiral or spirochetal. Bacteria can be classified by their response to OXYGEN: aerobic, anaerobic, or facultatively anaerobic; by the mode by which they obtain their energy: chemotrophy (via chemical reaction) or PHOTOTROPHY (via light reaction); for chemotrophs by their source of chemical energy: CHEMOLITHOTROPHY (from inorganic compounds) or chemoorganotrophy (from organic compounds); and by their source for CARBON; NITROGEN; etc.; HETEROTROPHY (from organic sources) or AUTOTROPHY (from CARBON DIOXIDE). They can also be classified by whether or not they stain (based on the structure of their CELL WALLS) with CRYSTAL VIOLET dye: gram-negative or gram-positive.	Eubacteria
D014871	Water Microbiology	The presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in water. This term is not restricted to pathogenic organisms.	Microbiology, Water
D018407	Bacterial Physiological Phenomena	Physiological processes and properties of BACTERIA.	Bacterial Physiology,Bacterial Processes,Bacterial Physiological Concepts,Bacterial Physiological Phenomenon,Bacterial Process,Physiology, Bacterial,Bacterial Physiological Concept,Concept, Bacterial Physiological,Concepts, Bacterial Physiological,Phenomena, Bacterial Physiological,Phenomenon, Bacterial Physiological,Process, Bacterial,Processes, Bacterial
D018441	Biofilms	Encrustations formed from microbes (bacteria, algae, fungi, plankton, or protozoa) embedded in an EXTRACELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCE MATRIX that is secreted by the microbes. They occur on body surfaces such as teeth (DENTAL DEPOSITS); inanimate objects, and bodies of water. Biofilms are prevented from forming by treating surfaces with DENTIFRICES; DISINFECTANTS; ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS; and anti-fouling agents.	Biofilm