Resumo

CHIBINSKI, Ana Cláudia Rodrigues et al. Decontamination of toothbrushes used by children with special needs: microbiological analysis. RSBO (Online) [online]. 2011, vol.8, n.2, pp. 145-152. ISSN 1984-5685.

INTRODUCTION: Children with special needs generally present poor oral hygiene, consequently, their toothbrushes become highly infected, acting as a reservoir for dissemination of different pathogens. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contamination and decontamination of toothbrushes used by children with special needs. acting as a reservoir for dissemination of different pathogens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Toothbrushes were retrieved from 30 children after 30 days of use, stored in tubes containing nutrient agar and incubated for 24 h (37ºC). After, 100 µl of the dilutions (1:10 and 1:100) were plated on MacConkey agar (Gram negative bacteria), Mitis Salivarius agar (Streptococcus spp.), and Saboroud agar (Candida spp.) and incubated (37ºC, 48 h). The toothbrushes were randomly divided into 3 groups for decontamination procedures using 0.12% chlorhexidine (GC); 1% sodium hypochlorite (GH) and distilled water (GA - control). The solutions were sprayed 6 times onto the bristles and the toothbrushes were submitted to microbiological analysis. Statistical analysis used non-parametric tests (Fisher's exact and Wilcoxon) (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The initial microbiological analysis showed a bacterial growth in all samples. Microorganisms levels higher than > 300 x 10³ CFU/mL were detected in 80% of the samples for Streptococcus spp.; 60% for Gram negative bacteria e 47% for Candida spp. After decontamination, there was significant reduction for GC when considering turbidity (p = 0.04) and at the levels of Gram negative bacteria (p = 0.04) and Candida spp. (p = 0.005). For GH e GA, the decontamination procedures were not significant. CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine solution was the only agent effective against Gram negative bacteria and Candida spp. None of the solutions tested was effective against Streptococcus spp.

Palavras-chave : toothbrush; contamination; decontamination.