title: A novel rapid oral bacteria detection apparatus for effective oral care to prevent pneumonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the oral environment, we evaluated the usefulness and clinical applicability of a new apparatus developed for the simple and rapid quantification of oral bacteria.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Professional oral health care can reduce the number of oral bacteria and days of fever and inhibit the development of pneumonia. A novel detection apparatus was developed by applying the dielectrophoretic impedance measurement method.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, to determine the accuracy of this apparatus, employing standard samples of Escherichia coli. Next, to evaluate the oral environment, samples were taken from the tongue in elderly (mean age: 86.6 years) in nursing home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first study, a good correlation was observed between the two methods (R = 0.999). In the second study, there were significant correlations between measurement values obtained using this apparatus and those obtained by the culture method (R = 0.852), as well as those obtained by the FM method (R = 0.885).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed that this rapid oral bacterial detection apparatus is effective in evaluating the oral hygiene to prevent pneumonia in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Clinic for Speech and Swallowing Disorders, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Dental Hospital, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kikutani@tokyo.ndu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikutani
authors.forename: Fumiyo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamada
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D048168:Escherichia coli K12 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology