title: Microbial contamination and disinfection methods of pacifiers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the microbial contamination of pacifiers by Mutans Streptococci(MS) and the efficacy of different methods for their disinfection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight children were assigned to a 4-stage changeover system with a 1-week interval. In each stage, children received a new pacifier and the parents were instructed to maintain their normal habits for 1 week. After this time, the pacifiers were subjected to the following 4 disinfection methods: spraying with 0.12% chlorhexidine solution, Brushtox or sterile tap water, and immersion in boiling tap water for 15 minutes. Microbiological culture for MS and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were performed. The results were analyzed statistically by Friedman's non-parametric test (a=0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 0.12% chlorhexidine spray was statistically similar to the boiling water (p>0.05) and more effective than the Brushtox spray and control (p<0.05). The analysis of SEM showed the formation of a cariogenic biofilm in all groups with positive culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pacifiers become contaminated by MS after their use by children and should be disinfected routinely. Spraying with a 0.12% chlorhexidine solution and immersion in boiling water promoted better disinfection of the pacifiers compared with a commercial antiseptic toothbrush cleanser (Brushtox).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontopediatria, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelson-Filho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade de Iguaçu, Itaperuna, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Costa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Louvain
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica, Patologia e Cirurgia Odontológicas, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Soraia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macari
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontopediatria, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília Pacífico
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lucisano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontopediatria, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Assed Bezerra da
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontopediatria, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandra Mussolino de
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Odontostomatologia, Facultat d'Odontologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaton-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontopediatria, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Léa Assed Bezerra da
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007223:Infant; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000382:microbiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D009067:Mouthwashes; D014867:Water; D002710:Chlorhexidine