Microorganisms on toothbrushes at day-care centers.

• The microflora on 44 toothbrushes at 4 day-care centers in the city of Göteborg have been investigated as a presumptive risk factor for transmission of microorganisms by children. Non-supervised toothbrushing without the use of toothpaste was performed at the day-care centers twice a day. Streptococci, predominantly S. salivarius, S. sanguis, and S. mitis, were the most frequently recorded group of microorganisms and generally constituted the greatest part of the flora (on average, 50%). Beta-hemolytic streptococci were not found in any sample. Haemophilus species were noted in 82% of the samples. H. parainfluenzae being the most frequent, and H. influenzae being identified in only one sample. Anaerobes constituted on average a third of the microflora. Staphylococci were identified in 86% of the samples, S. epidermidis dominating. Fungi including molds were found in 50% of the samples, and from one day-care center large numbers of enteric organisms were identified. Thus this study shows that unsupervised toothbrushing at day-care centers can be questioned, more from a general hygienic point of view than from the risk of transmitting serious pathogens.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Bacteria

isolation & purification

Bacteria

Anaerobic

isolation & purification

Candida

isolation & purification

Child

Child Day Care Centers

Child

Preschool

Colony Count

Microbial

Enterobacteriaceae

isolation & purification

Equipment Contamination

Haemophilus

isolation & purification

Humans

Staphylococcus aureus

isolation & purification

Staphylococcus epidermidis

isolation & purification

Streptococcus

isolation & purification

Streptococcus sanguis

isolation & purification

Sweden

Toothbrushing

instrumentation

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)