The effect of Sterilex Ultra for disinfection of dental unit waterlines.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a disinfectant agent based on hydrogen peroxide (Sterilex Ultra, Sterilex Corporation, Maryland, USA) on the microbiological water quality in dental unit waterlines (DUWL).


METHODS
Six older dental units were disinfected with Sterilex Ultra and another six units with sodium hypochlorite. The results were compared to six non-disinfected units examined during a period without patient treatment.


METHODS
The number of colony forming units of bacteria (cfu)/ml of water was determined according to European Standards on water quality.


METHODS
The water quality was initially determined during a six week period, and subsequently in more detail for two weeks. Finally, the effect of prolonged administration of Sterilex Ultra was investigated for six weeks.


RESULTS
Instillation of Sterilex Ultra according to the recommendations of the manufacturer initially reduced the number of bacteria in DUWL to <10(2) cfu/ml. However, following daily, as well as prolonged administration of Sterilex Ultra a gradual recolonisation was observed resulting in bacterial numbers >10(4) cfu/ml in a number of units. Major differences between the number of cfu/ml in individual units were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither daily nor extended administration of Sterilex Ultra was capable of maintaining an acceptable water quality in these older dental units.
Larsen
T
T
Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentisty, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Alle 20, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. tl@odont.ku.dk
Fiehn
N E
NE
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D019551:Dental Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003748:Dental Equipment; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D014871:Water Microbiology
D019551:Dental Disinfectants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C440248:Sterilex Ultra; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite