Cleaning dental instruments: measuring the effectiveness of an instrument washer/disinfector.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the cleaning effectiveness of one type of instrument washer available for use in a dental office.


METHODS
Dental instruments were heavily contaminated with blood and specific test bacteria. They were placed in cleaning baskets or within instrument cassettes, processed through the instrument washer, and analyzed for remaining blood and viable bacteria.


RESULTS
Information obtained indicated that the washer is an effective cleaning system for dental instruments.
Miller
C H
CH
Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis 46202, USA. chmille@iusd.iupui.edu
Tan
C M
CM
Beiswanger
M A
MA
Gaines
D J
DJ
Setcos
J C
JC
Palenik
C J
CJ
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D001769:Blood; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000382:microbiology; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017886:Durapatite; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development; D012475:Salmonella / Q000254:growth & development; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development; D013499:Surface Properties
D017886:Durapatite