Šparaš Luka, Nemec Ana, Biasizzo Majda
Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Jul 15;12:1639712. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1639712. eCollection 2025.
This prospective study aimed to assess microbial contamination levels in water from dental units used in small animal dentistry.
Water from 24 dental units across various clinics in Slovenia was sampled between July 2022 and September 2024. Samples were tested for spp., , , coliform bacteria, intestinal enterococci, and heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) at 36°C. Statistical analysis assessed associations between the water source, implemented disinfection protocols, and microbial contamination levels of water.
A total of 91.3% of the dental units were microbiologically non-compliant when considering potable drinking water standards. When criteria requiring the absence of spp., , , coliform bacteria, intestinal enterococci, and HPC < 200 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml were applied, 87.0% of the units were non-compliant. When threshold of HPC < 500 CFU/ml was applied, 79.2% of the units remained microbiologically non-compliant. Distilled water supplied 83.3% of units; the remaining 16.7% used municipal water. Disinfection protocols of dental unit waterlines were implemented in 16.7% of the dental units. None of these parameters were statistically significantly associated with microbial contamination levels of the water derived from dental units.
The high microbial contamination and limited disinfection use in dental units raise concerns about potential health risks to animals and practitioners. This study highlights the need to establish clear guidelines for microbial levels in water derived from dental units used in small animal dentistry, and to assess disinfection protocols in future research.
本前瞻性研究旨在评估小动物牙科所用牙科设备的水的微生物污染水平。
2022年7月至2024年9月期间，对斯洛文尼亚各诊所的24台牙科设备的水进行了采样。对样本进行了 spp.、 、 、大肠菌群、肠道肠球菌以及36°C时的异养平板计数（HPC）检测。统计分析评估了水源、实施的消毒方案与牙科设备用水的微生物污染水平之间的关联。
考虑到饮用水标准，共有91.3%的牙科设备在微生物学上不符合标准。当采用要求不存在 spp.、 、 、大肠菌群、肠道肠球菌且HPC＜200菌落形成单位（CFU）/毫升的标准时，87.0%的设备不符合标准。当采用HPC＜500 CFU/毫升的阈值时，79.2%的设备在微生物学上仍不符合标准。83.3%的设备使用蒸馏水；其余16.7%使用市政供水。16.7%的牙科设备实施了牙科设备水线消毒方案。这些参数均与牙科设备用水的微生物污染水平无统计学显著关联。
牙科设备中微生物污染程度高且消毒使用有限，引发了对动物和从业者潜在健康风险的担忧。本研究强调需要为小动物牙科所用牙科设备的水的微生物水平制定明确指南，并在未来研究中评估消毒方案。
