RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of alkaline peroxides against microbial biofilms on acrylic resin surfaces. METHODS: Denture base acrylic resin (Lucitone 550; n= 360) circular specimens (15 x 3 mm) were obtained from a circular metal matrix and sterilized with microwave irradiation (650 W, 6 minutes). The specimens were then contaminated with suspensions [106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL] of Candida albicans (Ca), Candida glabrata (Cg), Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), Streptococcus mutans (Sm), Bacillus subtilis (Bs), Enterococcus faecalis (Ef), Escherichia coli (Ec), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa). After contamination, the specimens were incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 hours and then placed in a stainless steel basket, which was immersed in a beaker with one of the following solutions prepared and used according to the manufacturers' instructions (n= 10 per group): Group PC (positive control), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution; Group MI, NitrAdine, Medical Interporous; Group EF, Efferdent Plus; Group CT, Corega Tabs; and Group NC (negative control; n= 5), no contamination and immersed in PBS. After incubation (37 degrees C, 24 hours), the number of colonies with characteristic morphology was counted, and CFU/mL values were calculated. The data were processed following the transformation into the formula log" (CFU + 1) and statistically analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: There were significant differences between the groups for the evaluated microorganisms with a significant reduction in the CFU/mL. MI was effective for Ca, Cg, Sa, Sm, Ef, Ec and Pa; EF was effective for Cg, Sm, Ef, Ec and Pa; and CT was effective for Sa, Bs and Ec, when compared with the PC group.
