Toothbrushes in the ecology of Candida albicans

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty nine patients were sorted out at random from different services at the Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Venezuela, to investigate simultaneously the presence of Candida albicans in the mouth and in their toothbrushes. None of them showed signs of candidiasis. From the oral cavity of each patient two samples were taken by rubbing throughout the mucous membrane. One of them was cultured in oxgall agar and the other one in diluted milk agar. At the same time, the toothbrushes of the patients were cultured in oxgall agar or in diluted milk agar. The results showed evidence of C. albicans in the mouth of 28% of the patients hospitalized for different reasons, and in the 18% of the toothbrushes studied. Both media were found equally efficient for the diagnosis and identification of C. albicans in nascent culture, even with material contaminated with other yeasts and bacteria. The use of dental prosthesis, in patients without teeth and those with a few teeth, appears to be a predisposing factor for the colonization by C. albicans in healthy mouths. Out of 57 healthy mouth-carriers of C. albicans, 33 (58% of them ) had also C. albicans in their toothbrushes. These findings seem to point to the toothbrushes as being the possible reservoir and reinfection source in some cases of candidiasis. To patients suffering with oral candidiasis the use of some method for disinfecting the toothbrushes must be recommended when planning the treatment.