Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Dental unit waterline (DWL) infection control is critical to infection prevention. Identifying challenges and barriers to its implementation is a first step toward understanding how to improve engagement.
METHODS: A survey was distributed to dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants via the Qualtrics XM platform (Qualtrics). Responses were analyzed to quantify engagement in practices contrary to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and identify avenues to improve engagement.
RESULTS: Although oral health care providers recognized DWL infection control was important, there was a lack of clarity about appropriate routine engagement (eg, what lines should be tested), what should be noted in practice infection control records, and steps to be taken in response to a failed test result (ie, ≥ 500 colony-forming units/mL), such as taking a chair out of service.
CONCLUSIONS: Survey results showed there were considerable gaps in knowledge and practice that could lead to patient harm. Oral health care provider training may not prepare personnel adequately to engage in, let alone supervise, DWL infection control. DWL infection control, like other aspects of infection control, requires action informed via an understanding of what needs to be done. Although good intentions are appreciated, better approaches to DWL infection control information dissemination and strategies to engage dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists in best practices are needed.
CONCLUSIONS: Evolving standards of care, including infection control, should be reflected in the provision of dental treatment. Improvements in communicating and ensuring engagement in best practices are needed when it comes to DWL infection control.
METHODS: A survey was distributed to dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants via the Qualtrics XM platform (Qualtrics). Responses were analyzed to quantify engagement in practices contrary to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and identify avenues to improve engagement.
RESULTS: Although oral health care providers recognized DWL infection control was important, there was a lack of clarity about appropriate routine engagement (eg, what lines should be tested), what should be noted in practice infection control records, and steps to be taken in response to a failed test result (ie, ≥ 500 colony-forming units/mL), such as taking a chair out of service.
CONCLUSIONS: Survey results showed there were considerable gaps in knowledge and practice that could lead to patient harm. Oral health care provider training may not prepare personnel adequately to engage in, let alone supervise, DWL infection control. DWL infection control, like other aspects of infection control, requires action informed via an understanding of what needs to be done. Although good intentions are appreciated, better approaches to DWL infection control information dissemination and strategies to engage dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists in best practices are needed.
CONCLUSIONS: Evolving standards of care, including infection control, should be reflected in the provision of dental treatment. Improvements in communicating and ensuring engagement in best practices are needed when it comes to DWL infection control.
摘要：
背景：牙科单位水线（DWL）感染控制对于预防感染至关重要。确定其实施的挑战和障碍是了解如何提高参与度的第一步。
方法：一项调查分发给牙医，牙科保健员,和牙科助理通过QualtricsXM平台(Qualtrics)。对回应进行了分析，以量化与疾病控制和预防中心的指导相反的实践中的参与度，并确定提高参与度的途径。
结果：尽管口腔保健提供者认识到DWL感染控制很重要，关于适当的日常参与缺乏明确性(例如，应该测试哪些线路)，在实践中应该注意感染控制记录，以及针对失败的测试结果应采取的步骤(即，≥500菌落形成单位/mL)，比如让椅子停止服务。
结论：调查结果显示，在知识和实践方面存在相当大的差距，这可能会对患者造成伤害。口腔保健提供者培训可能无法充分准备人员从事，更不用说监督了，DWL感染控制。DWL感染控制,像感染控制的其他方面一样，需要通过了解需要做什么来采取行动。尽管良好的意图受到赞赏，更好的DWL感染控制信息传播方法和聘请牙科助理的策略，牙科保健员,和牙医的最佳做法是必要的。
结论：不断发展的护理标准，包括感染控制,应反映在提供牙科治疗。在DWL感染控制方面，需要改进沟通和确保参与最佳实践。
方法：一项调查分发给牙医，牙科保健员,和牙科助理通过QualtricsXM平台(Qualtrics)。对回应进行了分析，以量化与疾病控制和预防中心的指导相反的实践中的参与度，并确定提高参与度的途径。
结果：尽管口腔保健提供者认识到DWL感染控制很重要，关于适当的日常参与缺乏明确性(例如，应该测试哪些线路)，在实践中应该注意感染控制记录，以及针对失败的测试结果应采取的步骤(即，≥500菌落形成单位/mL)，比如让椅子停止服务。
结论：调查结果显示，在知识和实践方面存在相当大的差距，这可能会对患者造成伤害。口腔保健提供者培训可能无法充分准备人员从事，更不用说监督了，DWL感染控制。DWL感染控制,像感染控制的其他方面一样，需要通过了解需要做什么来采取行动。尽管良好的意图受到赞赏，更好的DWL感染控制信息传播方法和聘请牙科助理的策略，牙科保健员,和牙医的最佳做法是必要的。
结论：不断发展的护理标准，包括感染控制,应反映在提供牙科治疗。在DWL感染控制方面，需要改进沟通和确保参与最佳实践。
