New Study from University of North Carolina Confirms Dental Bib Clips Contaminated

New Study from University of North Carolina Confirms Dental Bib Clips Contaminated

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has shown that unsterilized bib clips pose a significant hygiene risk.

UNC researchers in the school’s oral microbiology lab found that one in five bib clips sampled from hygiene and dental operatories showed a measurable presence of staphylococci, streptococci, pseudomonas, and the enteric bacteria E. coli.

These microorganisms were not just from skin but also from saliva and/or plaque, skin, or water lines. These findings are logical, as chains and clips are seldom sterilized, are touched by gloved and ungloved hygienists and dentists, and are used on many patients throughout each day.

Bib chains tested in the hygiene environment were found to have equal growth as those in an operative, periodontic/endodontic environment.

To avoid clip contamination:

• Sterilize clips between patients. Perhaps the best way to do this is to have several clips available in each work station at the start of each day.

• Use disposable clips, or bibs that don’t require clips.

• Use clips and chains that have fewer surfaces in which debris can accumulate.