Why doesn rinsing the vacuum line prevent cross-contamination?
Rinsing the vacuum line is recommended by the ADA, CDC and most vacuum system manufacturers. It should be a regular practice in the dental office. However, depending on the rinsing routine, biofilm can develop on the inside of all the permanent components and as a result minimize the effect of the rinsing process. Also, each component in the line creates nooks and crannies that may not get cleaned out during the rinsing process. Cleaning the line with an enzymatic cleaner before rinsing with water will make the rinsing process more effective and minimize biofilm. Most dental offices make it a routine to clean the vacuum line at the end of each day. That does not provide any protection for the second patient to the last patient of the day.
