Sains Malaysiana 42(1)(2013): 53–58

Microbial Contamination Level of Water Supply System at the

Faculty of Dentistry, USIM, Malaysia

(Tahap Pelumusan Mikrob pada Sistem Bekalan Air di Fakulti Pergigian, USIM, Malaysia)

Normaliza Ab. Malik*, Rohazila Mohd Hanafiah & Wan Mohamad Nasi Wan Othman

Faculty of Dentistry, University Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Aras 15-17, Menara B,

Persiaran MPAJ,  Jalan Pandan Utama, Pandan Indah, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 19 December 2011/Accepted: 21 May 2012

ABSTRACT

This study was to evaluate the microbial contamination level in direct water supply at the Polyclinic, Faculty of Dentistry, USIM, Malaysia. Water samples were collected randomly from water supplied via the cup filler outlet of 20 dental units and 20 side water taps at Level 16 and 17 of Polyclinic, Faculty of Dentistry, USIM. All the samples were placed and spread evenly on the surface of prepared agar media (the nutrient agar) using the spread technique. Each sample consists of 0.5 mL water. The microbial count was done using a magnifying glass and the total number of bacteria concentration was reported as colony forming unit in 1 mL of water (cfu/mL). In this study water from an aquarium was used as positive control with 220 cfu/mL, while the distilled water taken from the CSSD was used as negative control with no colony of microorganism. The study demonstrated that there were low contamination before the treatment that was beginning of the session in water supplied via the cup filler outlet and side water tap from the sink with 2 cfu/mL. However, two cup fillers water and one side water taps from Polyclinic level 17 showed a slightly higher bacterial colonies with 4 cfu/mL and 6 cfu/mL of microbes. At the end of the session, result showed that higher bacterial count from Polyclinic level 17 than Polyclinic level 16 with the highest reading of 40 cfu/mL. The findings were considered low and the water was safe for the dental procedures. The quality of water supplied at the Faculty of Dentistry, USIM was within the limits recommended by the American Dental Association, i.e. bacterial loads of not more than 200 cfu/mL for dental procedures.

Keywords: Dental unit water system; filter system; microbial contamination

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini telah dijalankan bagi menilai tahap pelumusan mikrob di dalam bekalan air di Poliklinik, Fakulti Pergigian, USIM. Sampel air telah diambil secara rawak daripada air yang dibekalkan untuk cawan pengisi di 20 unit pergigian dan 20 sampel lagi daripada sumber air paip di sinki di unit pergigian di tingkat 16 dan 17 Poliklinik, Fakulti Pergigian, USIM. Semua sampel telah diletakkan dan diratakan di atas permukaan media agar (agar nutrien) menggunakan teknik merebak. Setiap sampel terdiri daripada pencairan 0.5 mL. Kiraan mikrob telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan kanta pembesar dan jumlah bakteria mengikut kepekatan direkodkan sebagai unit membentuk koloni dalam 1 mL air (cfu/mL). Dalam kajian ini sampel air daripada akuarium telah digunakan sebagai kawalan positif dengan 220 cfu/mL, manakala sampel air suling yang diambil dari Unit Pensterilan digunakan sebagai kawalan negatif dengan tiada koloni mikroorganisma. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa terdapat pencemaran rendah sebelum rawatan pada permulaan sesi di dalam air yang dibekalkan kepada cawan pengisi dan paip air dari sinki dengan 2 cfu/mL. Walau bagaimanapun, dua air daripada sumber cawan pengisi dan satu air paip daripada Poliklinik 17 telah menunjukkan bacaan koloni bakteria yang lebih tinggi sedikit dengan 4 cfu/mL dan 6 cfu/mL mikrob. Pada akhir sesi, kajian menunjukkan bahawa kiraan bakteria yang lebih tinggi di Poliklinik 17 daripada Poliklinik 16 dengan bacaan tertinggi 40 cfu/mL. Penemuan ini masih dianggap rendah dan air adalah selamat untuk prosedur rawatan pergigian. Oleh yang demikian, kualiti air yang dibekalkan di Fakulti Pergigian, USIM adalah dalam had yang disyorkan oleh Persatuan Pergigian Amerika, iaitu bacaan bakteria tidak melebihi daripada 200 cfu/mL untuk prosedur rawatan pergigian.

Keywords: Pencemaran mikrobial; sistem air unit pergigian; sistem penapis

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*Corresponding author; email: liza_arie2004@yahoo.com