title: Evaluation of ocular prosthesis biofilm and anophthalmic cavity contamination after use of three cleansing solutions.
abstract: In addition to an initial socket discomfort, ocular prosthesis (OP) installation may allow the adherence of fungi and/or bacteria due to the superficial characteristics of the prosthesis' material, use of inadequate cleansing solutions and methods, or because the void located between the internal portion of the prosthesis and the anophthalmic cavity (AC) mucosa.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate OP biofilm formation and the level of contamination of the internal portion of the OP and the AC in 24 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Material was collected from the AC at the beginning of the study and 15 days after cleansing of the OP with 3 cleansing solutions: a neutral liquid soap, a multiuse solution for contact lens (Complete) and 0.12% chlorhexidine (Periogard). The collected materials were sowed in Petri dishes containing selective media for aerobic and facultative microorganisms, specifically staphylococci (Hipersalt agar with egg yolk), aerobic microorganisms (Brain Heart Infusion Blood Agar), streptococci (Mitis salivarius Agar), gram-negative bacilli (MacConkey Agar) and yeasts (Chromagar Candida), incubated at 35 degrees C or 37 degrees C and the number of colony forming units were counted. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA, Friedman's test and Spearman's correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aerobic microorganisms, gram-negative bacilli and S. aureus were found in the OP biofilm and in the AC. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the number of microorganisms before and after the use of the cleansing solutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was positive correlation with respect to the microorganisms present in the OP biofilm and AC for the 4 proposed treatments, indicating that the decrease of OP contamination leads to AC contamination as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina Márcia Zuccolotto Felippe
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Paranhos
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Batalhão
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semprini
authors.forename: Simone Cecílio Hallak
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Regalo
authors.forename: Izabel Yoko
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Maria da Glória Chiarello
authors.initials: Mda G
authors.lastname: de Mattos