ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dentures, occlusal splints, surgical guides and orthodontic appliances are examples of acrylic resin devices made in dental laboratories, which must be disinfected and even sterilized before insertion into the oral cavity. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) applied to acrylic resin specimens received from different laboratories. Methods: Three hundred standardized specimens were ordered from six randomly selected laboratories registered in the Council of Dentistry of Ceará (n=50). The PDT consisted in the association of 22 µM erythrosine, as a photosensitizer (P), and a 520-nm LED at 38 J/cm2 (L). The specimens of each laboratory were randomly distributed into five groups: positive control, sterilized with ethylene oxide; negative control, untreated (P-L-); erythrosine control, only stained (P+L-); LED control, only irradiated (P-L+); PDT (P+L+). Then, the specimens were individually sonicated in saline solution; the suspension was diluted, plated on culture mediums (blood agar, sabouraud dextrose agar and a non-selective chromogenic agar), and incubated for 48 hours at 37°C. Colony-forming-unit (CFU) counts were done and statistical tests of Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn were carried out. Results: The specimens from all laboratories were contaminated with bacteria and yeasts. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Klebsiella and Pseudomonas spp. were identified. The PDT significantly reduced CFU counts (P<0.0001), compared to P-L-. Conclusion: PDT was able to effectively decontaminate the acrylic resin specimens provided from dental laboratories.
ABSTRACT
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and causes of death in intensive care units (ICUs), and studies have shown its relation to oral health. Aim: To report the impact of the incorporation of dental professionals into multidisciplinary ICU staff on the incidence of VAP. Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out to collect and analyze health indicators of patients in the ICUs from 2011 to 2018 and to differentiate these indicators between the periods before and after the participation of dental staff in the ICU. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results:The average number of monthly ICU admissions was 105.89 ± 169.72, and the discharge was 105.21 ± 168.96, with a monthly average number of deaths within 24 h of 38.61 ± 62.27. The average number of monthly HAI-related deaths decreased from 2011 to 2018, followed by a reduction in cases of HAI per month. The average monthly number of HAIs related to mechanical ventilation (MV) decreased, and the same was observed for the infection density of HAIs related to MV (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, there was a significant decrease in the number of HAIs related to MV (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Although a reduction in the number of admissions or complexity of cases was not observed in the study period, multidisciplinary staff practices were essential for controlling HAIs and the presence of dental professionals can assist in the control of HAIs related to MV