An in vitro comparison of antimicrobial toothbrushes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of toothbrushes that advertise self-disinfecting, antimicrobial properties due to the inclusion of silver nanoparticles or chlorhexidine in the bristles. Three different types of toothbrushes-silver nanoparticle, chlorhexidine-coated, and a control-were submerged in suspensions of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. At designated times postinoculation, organisms were removed from the toothbrush heads, then serially diluted, plated, and incubated.

The comparative efficacy of 0.12% chlorhexidine and amoxicillin to reduce the incidence and magnitude of bacteremia during third molar extractions: a prospective, blind, randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to directly compare the incidence and magnitude of bacteremia of a 0.12% chlorhexidine pre-procedure rinse to the AHA and the ADA/AAOS recommended 2 g amoxicillin antibiotic prophylaxis during third molar extractions.

Study Design: This study was a randomized, blind, placebo-controlled prospective clinical trial involving subjects assigned to a placebo, rinse, or antibiotic group.

Performance of five FDA-approved rapid antigen tests in the detection of 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

Rapid antigen tests are commonly used by clinicians for rapid, simple, point-of-care testing. Five rapid antigen tests were shown to have low sensitivity (40.3-58.

Fluoride release from newly marketed fluoride varnishes.

Objective: New fluoride varnishes have been marketed that reportedly release more fluoride (Enamel Pro) or release fluoride more slowly (Vanish XT). The purpose of this study was to compare the amount and rate of fluoride release of new fluoride varnishes with other traditional fluoride varnishes.

Method And Materials: Extracted molars were cut into block sections.

Comparison of in-office dental unit waterline test kits.

The authors conducted a study to determine the validity of two commercially available in-office dental unit waterline test kits compared to the gold standard, R2A agar. Samples were collected from the air/water syringes of dental units and cultured on HPC Samplers, Petrifilm AC Plates, and R2A agar plates. HPC Samplers and R2A agar plates were incubated for 7 days and counted manually using magnification.

Acinetobacter baumannii and MRSA contamination on reusable phlebotomy tourniquets.

Objective: A study was undertaken to determine the incidence of Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination on reusable phlebotomy tourniquets at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX.

Design: Reusable tourniquets (n=200) were collected after being used for one day in the outpatient blood collection center (n=100) or during morning blood collection rounds on inpatient wards (n=100). Tourniquets were cultured and growth was screened for A.

Maintenance of antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii in modeled microgravity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a modeled microgravity environment on the antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Design: Clinical isolates of A. baumannii (n=10) in Mueller Hinton broth were grown in high aspect ratio vessels using a rotary cell culture system oriented to achieve either normal earth gravity (1 x G) or low sheer modeled microgravity (LSMMG) conditions.

An evaluation of the advandx Staphylococcus aureus/CNS PNA FISH assay.

Purpose: A study was conducted to compare the S. aureus/CNS PNA FISH Culture Identification Kit (AdvanDx, Woburn MA) to standard microbiology identification methods for presumptive identification of S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) in positive blood cultures.

Predicting irreparable renal ischemic injury using a real-time marker in the porcine model.

Purpose: We determined the maximal renal tolerance of warm ischemia using renal cortical interstitial metabolic changes to identify a potential real-time marker of irreparable renal function.

Materials And Methods: Using a single kidney model 3 groups of 5 pigs each underwent 120, 150 and 180 minutes of warm ischemia, respectively. Microdialysis samples were collected before, during and after ischemia.

Evaluation of disinfectants on military NATO and DECON litters.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of five disinfectants: A33, 10% bleach, 1% bleach, SPOROX, and 3% H2O2, on military NATO and DECON litters.

Design: Suspensions of Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and spore-enhanced Bacillus subtilis, with five percent albumin, were inoculated onto litters and dried overnight. The litters were saturated with disinfectant solutions and sampled after 10 minutes.

Treatment of field water with sodium hypochlorite for surgical irrigation.

Background: Early irrigation and surgical debridement of high-energy wounds and open fractures effectively prevents infection. Rapid wound care has been maximized by the United States military's "forward surgical teams." However, the volume of sterile irrigant required to treat multiple patients with multiple wounds presents a significant logistical burden.