Evaluation of microbial contamination and efficacy of antimicrobial agents in disinfection of handicapped patients' toothbrushes

This study aimed to evaluate the contamination of toothbrushes usedby patients with disabilities, by microbial culture and cariogenic biofilm formation,and to explore two methods of disinfection. Methods: Experimental procedures were divided into three stages, with the same interval between each stage. In the first stage, the patients brushed their teeth, rinsed them with water, and their toothbrushes were sprayed with sterilized tap water. In the second and third stages, the steps were similar to those of Stage I, except the toothbrushes were sprayed with 0.12% chlorhexidine and 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride solutions, respectively. At the end of each stage, the toothbrush bristles were cultured in bacitracin sucrose broth (CaSaB) medium. Data were analyzed through Friedman's nonparametric test (5% significance level). Results: In Stage I, mutans group streptococci (MS) were present in 30 toothbrushes (76.9%), and the number of colonies/biofilms ranged from 0 to +100. In Stage II, no MS colonization was observed. In Stage III, only 10.2% of the toothbrushes were contaminated with MS, and the number of colonies/biofilms ranged from 1 to 31. Conclusion: Bristles of toothbrushes used by patients with disabilities became contaminated with MS after a single brushing. The 0.12% chlorhexidine solution eliminated all microorganisms from the bristles of the toothbrushes used by the patients. Both 0.12% gluconate chlorhexidine and 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride spray solutions can effectively be used for toothbrush disinfection to reduce contamination.

Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a contaminação de escovas de dente utilizadas por pacientes especiais, por meio de cultura microbiana e formação de biofilme cariogênico, explorando dois métodos de desinfecção. Métodos: O estudo foi dividido em três estágios, com o mesmo intervalo de tempo entre cada estágio. No primeiro estágio, os pacientes escovaram os dentes e enxaguaram com água, em seguida, suas escovas foram borrifadas com água destilada. No segundo e terceiro estágios, as etapas foram semelhantes às do estágio I, exceto que as escovas de dente foram borrifadas com soluções de clorexidina 0,12% e cloreto de cetilpiridínio 0,05%, respectivamente. Ao final de cada etapa, as cerdas das escovas de dente foram cultivadas em meio de Caldo Sacarose Bacitracina (CaSaB). Os dados foram analisados por meio do teste não paramétrico de Friedman (nível de significância de 5%). Resultados: No estágio I, os estreptococos do grupo mutans (EM) estavam presentes em 30 escovas de dente (76,9%), e o número de colônias / biofilmes variou de 0 a +100. No estágio II, nenhuma colonização por MS foi observada. No estágio III, apenas 10,2% das escovas de dente estavam contaminadas com MS, e o número de colônias / biofilmes variou de 1 a 31. Conclusão: As cerdas das escovas de dente utilizadas por pacientes especiais contaminaram-se com EM após uma única escovação. A solução de clorexidina 0,12% eliminou todos os microrganismos das cerdas das escovas de dente utilizadas pelos pacientes. Ambas as soluções em spray (gluconatode clorexidina 0,12% e cloreto de cetilpiridínio 0,05%) podem ser utilizadas com eficácia para desinfecção das escovas de dente para reduzir a contaminação.

Novel endodontic sealers induced satisfactory tissue response in mice.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the subcutaneous response induced by Roeko Guttaflow2 (RG), Sealapex Xpress (SX), AH Plus (AHP) sealers. METHODS: 100 BALB/c mice received implants in the subcutaneous tissue with the tested materials (10 animals per period for each evaluated sealer) and were evaluated after different experimental periods (7, 21 and 63 days), in each animal was placed a tube, the control group was an empty tube. Histological analysis evaluated semi-quantitatively the inflammatory infiltration, collagen fiber formation and tissue thickness. In addition, immunohistochemistry was performed for interleukin-6 (IL-6). Data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05). RESULTS: RG promoted a greater collagen fiber formation at 7 days and 63 days compared to the CG (p = 0.004) and AHP (p = 0.005) respectively, while at 21 days, the SX promoted a greater reaction (p = 0.021). For the tissue thickness, there was a greater reaction at 7 days with CG (p = 0.0156) and with RG at 63 days (p = 0.03). Regarding the inflammatory infiltrate, there was no difference at 7 days and 63 days (p = 0.5; p = 0.27), while at 21 days, a statistically difference was found between SX, CG (p = 0.04) and RG (p = 0.027). In addition, the presence of IL-6 was observed in almost all groups, with a more intense marking at 7days. SIGNIFICANCE: All cements evaluated presented a satisfactory tissue response, however, RG was the one that presented a more satisfactory tissue response.