Authors: Edis GRCIĆ, Ivan ERŽEN
Corresponding author: Edis Grcić
Type of paper: Professional paper
Issue: Volume 10 | number 1 – 2016
Abstract: Due to a possible Legionella contamination of dental unit water systems (DUWS) in dental chairs and the possibility of infection when using fast rotating parts (turbines) of dental chairs, we identified the health risks for employees and their patients in dental clinics by following the recommendations of the European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI), based on the Kinney methods. Five hundred thirty-seven water samples from DUWS were microbiologically analyzed. Legionella spp. was found in 18.3 % of the samples. In 55.9 % of contaminated samples, the concentration of Legionella spp. was >100 CFU/100 ml. Legionella pneumophila sg.1 presented 36.3 % of all isolated Legionella spp.
