Structural Damage and Microbial Contamination of Rotary Cutting Instruments After 5 Years of Use and Processing
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- In this experimental post-test study designed to evaluate rotary cutting instruments (RCIs) regarding the presence of structural damage, dirt, and biofilm in controlled clinical use, the carbide burs in all groups (baseline, control, and test) and diamond burs (DBs) in the test group showed structural damage. All carbide burs and DBs in the baseline and test groups had dirt on their surfaces. The presence of biofilm was observed on 7.14% of the RCIs, and an isolated bacterial cell was noted on one DB in the test group.
- RCIs should be discarded after the first clinical use because these instruments are not 100% cleanable and their sterilization is not ensured. RCIs should be treated as single-use healthcare products. Adopting single-use RCIs comes at a cost worth being paid to guarantee the safety of patients and dental care professionals.
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract now Full Text Available for ClinicalKey SubscribersBACKGROUND
Rotary cutting instruments (RCIs) are sterilized routinely. The authors aimed to analyze the structural integrity, presence of dirt, and microbial contamination of RCIs used in clinical practice after processing.
METHODS
Eighty-four RCIs (42 carbide burs, 42 diamond burs) were divided into baseline, control, and test groups. The RCIs were evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy and microbiological analysis. Evaluation criteria included presence of structural damage, dirt, biofilm, and isolated cells and their phenotypic profile.
RESULTS
The carbide burs from all groups and diamond burs from the test groups had structural damage. Dirt was observed in the baseline and test groups. Three bacterial species were isolated from 4 RCIs (9.52%). An isolated cell was observed from 1 carbide bur. Biofilm was observed on 3 RCIs (7.14%).
CONCLUSIONS
RCIs should not be subjected to multiple uses; after the first clinical use they accumulate structural damage and dirt that hampers the cleaning step, causing failure in the sterilization process.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
The presence of microorganisms and structural damage on the RCIs confirmed that they are not amenable to processing, a fact that characterizes them as a single-use health care product.
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Additional Info
Biofilm on and structural damage of rotary cutting instruments after 5 cycles of clinical use and processing
J Am Dent Assoc 2023 Jun 01;154(6)495-506, FA Uchoa-Junior, TJE Barata, LSNO Leão-Vasconcelos, EL Ribeiro, AFV TippleFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.