Arthur Gross

Effectiveness of pulsating water jet lavage in treatment of contaminated crushed wounds.

Abstract Facial crush wounds in 200 albino rats were contaminated with soil containing K pneumoniae, Ps aeruginosa, Pr mirabilis and Staph aureus. The wounds in the control group were irrigated with water using a bulb syringe. In the experimental group the wounds were lavaged with a pulsating water jet. The results indicate that the pulsating jet lavage was much more effective in reducing the bacterial population and in the removal of necrotic tissue and foreign particles from the wounds than was irrigation with a bulb syringe. The amount and extent of the inflammatory reaction and abscess formation was found to be directly related to the amount of foreign material remaining in the wound. Early reduction of bacterial concentration in the wound by pulsating water jet lavage resulted in faster elimination of all bacteria and accelerated wound healing.

Use of the carbon dioxide laser in sterilization of endodontic reamers

The object of this study was to test a new method of sterilizing endodontic instruments by using a carbon dioxide laser system. This was done by contaminating endodontic reamers with spores, exposing them to a CO2 laser beam, and checking for their viability by standard microbiologic techniques. It was found that 100 percent of the spores were killed by the CO2 laser. This holds promise as an effective method of sterilizing endodontic instruments in the future.

Microbial Contamination of Toothbrushes

Abstract : The degree of bacterial contamination of toothbrushes after contamination and storage in vented containers or in air was studied. The capacity of toothbrush containers to exclude microorganisms of the environment from the toothbrush was also investigated. Results showed that fewer viable organisms were found on the toothbrushes hanging in air and that sterile toothbrushes were better protected from bacterial contamination by test containers than by conventional containers. Air storage is recommended in normal environments and containerized storage in contaminated environments such as shared hospital rooms. (Author)

Effect of tongue brushing on plaque bacteria

Abstract Tongue and plaque samples from seven of twenty-two caries-susceptible persons produced a thick, gelatinous, plaque on wires. Neither tongue nor plaque samples from the remaining fifteen subjects produced a similar type of plaque in vitro. The formation of this characteristic artificial plaque was attributable to a Streptococcus salivarius variant. The tongue appeared to be a major source of these variants. Following 2 weeks of tongue brushing, these organisms could no longer be isolated from either tongue or “newly” formed plaque. These results suggest that numbers and types of plaque organisms are altered by a regimen of daily tongue brushing.

The effect of antibiotics and pulsating water jet lavage on contaminated wounds

Abstract It has been shown that pressure lavage with a solution of streptomycin and penicillin significantly reduces the incidence of wound infection. Such elimination of bacteria from wounds should accelerate healing and decrease tissue destruction and scar formation. It is suggested that antibiotics other than the ones used in this study may further increase the effectiveness of this method.

Effect of SnF2 Mouthrinse on Initial Bacterial Colonization of Tooth Enamel

Microbiologic and electron microscopic techniques were used to observe the effects of SnF2 mouthrinse (100 ppm F-) on early plaque formation in vivo. The results of microbiologic determinations indicated that the total number of bacteria and the number of streptococci were greatly decreased in two-day-old plaque samples. Electron microscopy confirmed the marked reduction of bacterial accumulation.

Effect of surgical scrub on microbial population under the fingernails

The effectiveness of two methods of presurgical hand preparation, the 10 minute routine scrub and the 90 second Hydroscrub, in reducing microbial numbers under the fingernails was determined. Bacteriologic cultures of 162 subungual areas of nine subjects revealed prescrub microbial counts of up to 1.9 X 10(5) colony-forming units per area. After the surgical scrub, bacterial concentrations were reduced to a different degree among the persons tested. The mean values of 3.0 X 10(3) to 7.8 X 10(3) colony-forming units immediately after scrub indicated that neither of the two methods tested reduced the microbial population under the fingernails of most persons to acceptable levels. The finding of high postscrub microbial counts under the fingernails is of particular interest and significance in view of the relatively low counts on the fingertips. On the basis of the results of this study, we conclude that degerming of the areas under the fingernails by present methods is not satisfactory. The implication of these findings is discussed.

Dental plaque reduction with an antibacterial mouth rinse. Part I

Abstract Two groups of fifty young male subjects rinsed their mouths once daily for 5 days with 15 ml. of a prescribed liquid mouthwash. Group I received a placebo and Group II received a new antibacterial agent, 0.035 per cent Alexidine with 18 per cent alcohol. Plaque scores were recorded for pretreatment and posttreatment examinations, and their incremental difference was tested for significance. The treatment groups improvement was statistically significant. There was no statistical difference in plaque reductions between those teeth receiving a prophylaxis and those left with preformed plaque. Carry-over effect after cessation of treatment was not significant.

A study of bacteremia following wound lavage

Abstract Seventy-five albino rats were used in a study to determine whether water pressure lavage of experimental contaminated wounds would cause bacteremia. It was found that this method, which has proved effective in the debridement of contaminated wounds and in reducing the incidence of infection, is not likely to cause bacteremia.

Analysis of Free Fatty Acids on the Fingertips by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract This investigation studied the efficiency of high performance liquid chromatography in the determination of free fatty acids present on the fingertips, and assessed the quantitative relationship between skin fatty acids and the degree of microbial contamination. Automated surgical scrub was utilized to eliminate the microbial contamination. The high performance liquid chromatography provided excellent separation of skin fatty acids for evaluation with the bacterial counts. The fatty acid peaks identified ranged in chain length from C12 through C32. All the fatty acids evaluated showed positive correlation with the bacterial counts with the exception of one acid which had an inverse relationship but none were statistically significant. Finally, the surgical scrub chromatograms showed that the straight chain acids C19 and C21 were lower in concentration than C23 and C25; also, C26 was lower in concentration than C28 and C30. It was evident from the data that fatty acids which have been shown to be ...