Efficacy of cleansing agents in killing microorganisms in mixed species biofilms present on silicone facial prostheses—an in vitro study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of different cleansing agents in killing mixed species biofilms on silicone facial prostheses.Materials and methodsTwo bacterial and three yeast strains, isolated from silicone facial prostheses, were selected for the mixed species biofilms. A variety of agents used to clean facial prostheses were employed, viz., antibacterial soap, essential-oil-containing mouth rinse, ethanol 27 %, chlorhexidine mouth rinse, and buttermilk. Colony forming units (CFUs) and live/dead staining were analyzed to assess the efficacy of these cleansing agents against 24-h and 2-week biofilms and regrown biofilms on silicone samples.ResultsChlorhexidine was the most effective cleansing agent. Chlorhexidine killed 8 log unit CFUs (>99.99 % killing) in a 24-h biofilm and 5 log unit CFUs (>99.99 % killing) in 2-week biofilms. Also, after regrowth and repeated treatment of the biofilm, chlorhexidine was the most effective cleansing agent showing no detectable CFUs. The essential-oil-containing mouth rinse (containing 26.9 % ethanol) showed a similar efficacy as ethanol (27 %) alone. Antibacterial soap and buttermilk were the least effective agents tested.ConclusionsChlorhexidine showed the highest reduction in CFUs in 24-h, 2-week, and regrown mixed species biofilm of microorganisms isolated from silicone facial prostheses.Clinical relevanceChlorhexidine mouth rinse (easy obtainable and relatively cheap) is very effective in killing bacteria and yeast present in biofilms on silicone facial prostheses. When applied on a regular basis, cleansing a facial prosthesis with chlorhexidine will presumably increase its lifetime and reduce skin irritations.

Effect of Chemical Disinfectants on the Color Stability of Maxillofacial Silicones: An In Vitro Study

“…21 Ariani et al studied and proved the efficacy of antibacterial soap containing triclosan and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate against microorganisms in biofilms present on silicone facial prostheses. 22 The present study used antibacterial soap containing chloroxylenol instead of neutral soap and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate. 10,17,23 Chlorhexidine (2%) is easily available and has no coloring agents.…”

Candida spp./Bacteria Mixed Biofilms

“…Both NaOCl and PHMB were efficient in eliminating E. faecalis and S. epidermidis from the mature dentin biofilm, but CHX was not satisfactory in this matter [135]. Comparably, S. epidermidis MFP5-5 and S. xylosus MFP28-3, C. albicans MFP8, C. parapsilosis MFP16-2, and Candida famata MFP29-1 were isolated from silicone facial prostheses by Ariani et al [168]. In order to verify their antimicrobial activity, several agents used to clean facial prostheses were used: Antibacterial soap, essential oil-containing mouth rinse, ethanol 27%, chlorhexidine mouth rinse, and buttermilk.…”

“…The results showed that antibacterial soap and buttermilk had the lowest activity. On the other side, CHX exhibited the highest reduction in colony forming units (CFUs) in 24-h, 2-week, and regrown mixed-species biofilms [168].…”

Maxillofacial prostheses challenges in resource constrained regions

“…Furthermore, nutritional support either extrinsically or intrinsically [for example residual salts from sweating, sebaceous secretions, traces of petroleum jelly applied to facilitate donning] from within the prostheses will sustain further growth of these micro-organisms [72]. The prosthesis surface can then harbour microorganisms within the pores the material if they are not removed by appropriate washing [71,74]. Some problems associated with microbial colonization are black or brown stains on the surface of the prostheses, offensive odours and tissue infections [71].…”