J Dent Rehabil Appl Sci.  2020 Mar;36(1):55-60. 10.14368/jdras.2020.36.1.55.

Effect of quaternary ammonium compounds on microbial contamination levels in dental clinics

• Baik SY
• Park Y
• Choi SH
• Kim HJ
• Kim ST

• KMID: 2512125
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14368/jdras.2020.36.1.55

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the change of microbial contamination levels in the different areas and at the different time points after application of a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) that has mechanical antimicrobial effect. The microbial contamination levels were measured in three different areas; unit chair handle, spit sink area and hand piece holder at different time points using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring system and ATP surface test kit. Hand piece holder showed the highest level of microbial contamination. In most of the clinics, QAC significantly reduced the levels of microbial contamination, and maintained antimicrobial activity for 4 to 6 months. QAC may be used effectively in dental clinics due to the duration of antimicrobial effect and the minimal exposure of chemicals and further studies are needed with large sample size.

Keyword

quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC); microbial contamination; ATP (adenosine triphosphate) monitoring system; dental clinic

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The procedure of measuring ATP monitoring system. Surface swabbing (A), snap the kit that illuminates ATP within a sample (B), and insert the kit into ATP monitoring system (C). It detects the luminescence and quantifies the amount of ATP in the sample in 15 seconds (D).

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  Fig. 2 The change of contamination levels in different areas at different time points (Units: RLU). (A) Unit chair handle, (B) Spit sink area, (C) Hand piece holder. RLU: Relative light unit, Pre: Pre treatment, M: Month(s) of post treatment.

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  Fig. 3 Antimicrobial mechanism of quaternary ammonium compound (QAC). The spike structures destroy the cell membrane of microorganisms mechanically and induce the cell death.

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