The persistence of microorganisms on impression materials following disinfection.

Following in vitro inoculation with C albicans or P aeruginosa, three impression materials--polysulfide rubber, irreversible hydrocolloid, and poly(vinyl siloxane)--were disinfected with either 0.1% or 0.02% chlorhexidine gluconate and a quantitative assessment of the microorganisms was made. Very few microorganisms were retained on the poly(vinyl siloxane) material immediately after microbial inoculation. The numbers of microorganisms on polysulfide impression materials diminished rapidly with time even without disinfection, and a 30-minute disinfection procedure resulted in total microbe elimination. With irreversible hydrocolloid, microorganisms persisted and disinfection procedures were considerably less effective. When the disinfection efficacy of three commercially available agents was compared using irreversible hydrocolloid impression material, chlorhexidine gluconate (0.2%) was found to be less effective than either glutaraldehyde (2%) or sodium hypochlorite (0.0125%); the latter two agents were comparable in their antimicrobial effect. Thus, a simple disinfection regime of 30 minutes with commonly available disinfectants may be effective in eliminating cross-contamination from impression materials.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Carriage of Oral Flora On Irreversible Hydrocolloid and Elastomeric Impression Materials

This study assessed the carriage and persistence of oral flora on irreversible hydrocolloid and elastomeric impression materials. In the first part of the study, a single isolate each of Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans were inoculated onto each of two elastomeric and two irreversible hydrocolloid impression surfaces artificially created in vitro. Then the inoculum was discarded, samples of impression material (13 mm in diameter) were removed over a 5-hour period, and the remainder of viable organisms were estimated. In the second part of the study, impressions were made from 21 dentate and eight edentulous patients, and bacterial counts were estimated as described. The results showed twofold to fivefold retention of bacteria on the irreversible hydrocolloids compared with the elastomeric impression surfaces. With all impression materials, the number of viable bacteria retained within 5 hours decreased 65% to 98% except for the "disinfectant" irreversible hydrocolloid Blueprint Asept, which totally destroyed the organisms in less than 3 minutes. It is concluded that the total bacterial "load" on impression surfaces is relatively low and decreases rapidly after impression making. However, disinfection of impression surfaces should be mandatory to prevent cross-infection. © 1991 Mosby-Year Book, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex