Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 52-54, 2004
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Short Communication
Bactericidal Effects of Acidic Electrolyzed Water on the Dental Unit Waterline
Shinya Kohno*, Toshitsugu Kawata, Masato Kaku, Tadashi Fujita, Keisuke Tsutsui, Junji Ohtani, Kaoru Tenjo, Masahide Motokawa, Yuiko Tohma, Mao Shigekawa, Hiroko Kamata and Kazuo Tanne
Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Developmental Biology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
(Received October 6, 2003. Accepted January 29, 2004)
*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Orthodontics
and Craniofacial Developmental Biology, Hiroshima University Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima
734-8553, Japan. Tel: +81-82-257-5686, Fax: +81-82-257-5687, E-mail:
acho@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
SUMMARY: Many studies have been conducted in the United
States regarding the microbial contamination of dental unit waterline,
but not in Japan. Recently, acidic electrolyzed water has been
used in the medical and dental fields. In this study, we investigated
the bactericidal effects of the temporary inflow of acidic electrolyzed
water on microbial contamination of the dental unit waterline.
First, in order to observe the daily bacterial contamination of
the dental unit waterline, water samples were collected at the
end of handpieces and three-way syringes before the inflow of
acidic electrolyzed water. They were cultured to detect viable
bacteria. Later, the inflow of acidic electrolyzed water was conducted
through the piping box of the dental unit. Before starting operation
on next day, water samples were collected and cultured, as described
above. The mean viable bacteria count was 910 } 190 CFU/ml at
the end of handpieces, and 521 } 116 CFU/ml at the end of three-way
syringes before the inflow of acidic electrolyzed water. However,
bacteria were detected in only small numbers at the end of handpieces
and three-way syringes on the next day. These results indicated
that acidic electrolyzed water could be applied as an appropriate
measure against bacterial contamination of the dental unit waterline.
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