Calling time on biofilm’s house party

Dental unit water lines (DUWLs) are an integral part of dental treatment systems and previous studies evaluating the microbiological quality of water obtained from DUWL systems have indicated that high levels of bacteria can be present in the water delivered from the unit into the patient’s mouth.

What is biofilm?

The term biofilm refers to a collection of microorganisms that adhere to a surface and are surrounded by a protective and adherent slime (known as the extracellular matrix), which is secreted by the bacteria.

Biofilms form when a few individual bacteria in the planktonic state in water, adhere to a solid surface such as the wall of a pipe or tube. The initial attraction to the surface is weak, but subsequent bacteria decide to join their ‘friends’ and continue to adhere to those already attached. This in turn increases adhesion and encourages more planktonic bacteria to join ‘the party’, and so the process continues, increasing levels of biofilm and causing water quality levels to fall.