Disinfection of dental loupes: A pilot study

Magnification loupes are not disposable and must be cleaned and disinfected between each patient. In this pilot study, the authors determined the efficacy of infection-control procedures used by dental students between patients.

Visibly clean loupes owned and used by 25 dental students were swabbed for bacteria using a standard microbiology method at baseline and then cleaned with surface disinfectant before they were returned. The students then used and disinfected their loupes for 5 days as they treated patients, after which time the loupes were retrieved and swabbed again. After the samples had been cultured, the numbers of aerobic and anaerobic colony-forming units (CFUs) were enumerated. The authors report the contamination levels at baseline, after cleaning, and after being used for 5 days.

At baseline, the number of CFUs ranged from 0 through more than 100. When used according to the manufacturers' instructions, the disinfectant reduced the count to no more than 2 CFUs. After the loupes were used for 5 days, 20% of loupes were highly contaminated (> 100 CFUs), 20% were moderately contaminated (20-100 CFUs), and 60% had less than 20 CFUs. Students who performed a restoration on day 5 were 12 times more likely (P < .01) to have loupes contaminated with aerobic bacteria than those who had not performed a restoration on day 5.

The recommended prophylaxis and disinfection protocol worked well when used correctly, but it was likely that the protocol often was not followed properly or consistently.

Visibly clean loupes may be a source of cross-contamination.