title: Time-related increase of staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts in the oral cavities of comatose patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The composition of oral microbiota in comatose patients remains uncertain. Some pulmonary pathogens may be found in dental biofilms or as part of the saliva microbiota. It is supposed that some pneumopathogenic microorganisms may overgrow in the mouths of comatose patients and spread to their lungs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The oral colonization dynamics of staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts in nine comatose patients (group 1), and in 12 conscious patients that brushed their teeth at least twice a day (group 2) was evaluated. Both groups were followed up for 7 days after hospitalization. Daily samples of saliva were obtained, dispersed and plated on selective culture media and colony forming units of each microbial group were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For patients in group 1, the counts of total viable bacteria, staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts progressively increased in a time-dependant manner. For the conscious patients of group 2, there was no increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It would appear that concomitant consciousness and brushing teeth are determinants in controlling the selected pneumopathogen counts in resting saliva. The increase in microbial counts in comatose patients is understandable because these microorganisms could spread to the lungs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stomatology, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabrine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cecon
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Nunes
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Rosimeire Takaki
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Lauren Christine
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gursky
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Paula e Carvalho
authors.forename: Lakshman Perera
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Samaranayake
authors.forename: Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003128:Coma / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media