Study: Dental bib clips can harbor oral and skin bacteria even after disinfection

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — APRIL 2, 2013 — Researchers at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the Forsyth Institute published a study today that found that a significant proportion of dental bib clips harbored bacteria from the patient, dental clinician, and the environment even after the clips had undergone standard disinfection procedures in a hygiene clinic. Although the majority of the thousands of bacteria found on the bib clips immediately after treatment were adequately eliminated through the disinfection procedure, the researchers found that 40% of the bib clips tested post-disinfection retained one or more aerobic bacteria, which can survive and grow in oxygenated environments. They found that 70% of bib clips tested post-disinfection retained one or more anaerobic bacteria, which do not live or grow in the presence of oxygen. The full study titled “Comprehensive Analysis of Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria Found on Dental Bib Clips at Hygiene Clinic” will be published as a supplement to the April issue of Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry and is now available for download here.RELATED |Study: Bib clip contamination remains after disinfection40% of bib clips retained aerobic bacteria; 70% retained anaerobic bacteria post-disinfection “The study of bib clips from the hygiene clinic demonstrates that with the current disinfection protocol, specific aerobic and anaerobic bacteria can remain viable on the surfaces of bib clips immediately after disinfection,” said Addy Alt-Holland, MSc, PhD, assistant professor at the Department of Endodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the lead researcher on the study. “Although actual transmission to patients was not demonstrated, some of the ubiquitous bacteria found may potentially become opportunistic pathogens in appropriate physical conditions, such as in susceptible patients or clinicians.”Watch a VIDEO here. The study analyzed the clips on 20 dental bib holders after they had been used on patients treated in a dental hygiene clinic. The bib clips were sampled for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial contaminants immediately after treatment (post-treatment clips) and again after the clips were cleaned using disinfecting, alcohol-containing wipes (post-disinfection clips) according to the manufacturer instructions and the clinic’s disinfection protocol.

Researchers involved in the study hypothesized that bacteria found on bib clips after patient care could have been transferred from patients and clinicians to the clips in different ways:1. Oral bacteria present in the patient’s saliva and the spray or spatter produced during dental treatments may contribute to the presence of bacteria on the disinfected bib clips.2. Bacteria can also be transferred from the gloved hands of dental practitioners to the clips prior to or during the patient’s treatment.3. Bacteria can be transferred from the patient’s hands to the clips if the patient touches the clip. In a previous study published in August 2012 by researchers at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the Forsyth Institute, it was found that 20% to 30% of dental bib clips still harbor aerobic bacterial contaminants even after proper disinfection procedures. Rubber-faced metal bib clips were found to retain more bacteria than bib clips made only of metal immediately after treatment and before disinfection. Four other research reports have found bacterial contamination on dental bib holders, including research conducted by U.S. infection control specialist Dr. John Molinari, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Dentistry Oral Microbiology lab and the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany. Visit www.dentalbibclipbacteria.com to download a full transcript of the research paper “Comprehensive Analysis of Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria Found on Dental Bib Clips at Hygiene Clinic,” a supplement to the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry Vol. 34, N. 4, 2013. The authors of the study include: Addy Alt-Holland, BSC, MSC, PhD; Christina M. Murphy, BS; Anne Powers, RDH; Claire L. Kublin, BS; Youjin Natalie Jeong, DMD; Michelle DiMattia; Linh Pham; Angel Park, MS, MPH; Matthew Finkelman, PhD; Maureen Lombard, RDH, MM; James B. Hanley, DMD; Bruce J. Paster, PhD; and Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD.About the Forsyth Institute The Forsyth Institute is the world’s leading independent organization dedicated to scientific research and education in oral health and related biomedical sciences. Established in 1910, Forsyth’s goal is to lead the discovery, communication, and application of breakthroughs in oral health and disease prevention that will significantly improve the health and well-being of the nation and the world. The Forsyth Institute is affiliated with the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. For more information about Forsyth, visit its website.