Oral Candida and nasal Aspergillus flora in a group of Saudi healthy dentate subjects.

UNLABELLED: The prevalence of oral candidal carriage is widely variable in different populations but has never been studied previously in a Saudi population. Nasal mycological flora has never been investigated previously in a healthy population. OBJECTIVES: To assess the oral and nasal candidal and Aspergillus flora in a group of Saudi healthy adult dentate subjects. DESIGN: The concentrated oral rinse technique and nasal swab technique were used to sample the oral and nasal cavity respectively. RESULTS: Candida species were isolated from the oral cavity of 52 (52%) subjects. Candida albicans constituted 80.8% of the isolates, followed by C. krusei (5.8%). Aspergillus species were isolated from the nose of 21 (21%) subjects. A. flavus constituted 42.3% of the isolates followed by A. niger (31.8%) and A. fumigatus (26.9%). Subjects who did not brush their teeth had a significantly higher rate of oral Candida and nasal Aspergillus compared with those who brushed regularly (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Oral mycological flora in the Saudi population is not different than reported for other populations. Lack of oral hygiene increases oral candidal colonisation. Larger scale studies are encouraged to determine the prevalence of oral candidal carriage in the population generally, and the significance of nasal Aspergillus carriage should be determined.

Effect of aqueous extract of miswak on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans.

Chewing sticks (miswak) which are the roots of Salvadora persica plant have been used for centuries as oral hygiene tools in many parts of the world particularly in Saudi Arabia. Many studies have demonstrated the antiplaque, antiperiopathic, anticaries and antibacterial effect of these sticks. This study was designed to investigate the antimycotic effect, if any, of the aqueous extract of the plant roots. Various concentrations of aqueous extract of miswak prepared with Sabouraud medium were inoculated with Candida albicans (oral isolate). These were incubated at 37 degrees C and the turbidity was determined by OD at 600 nm wavelength measured at specific intervals over a period of 48 h. Data show that the extract at a concentration of 15% and above, has a fungistatic effect for up to 48 h. This antimycotic effect was probably due to one or more of the root contents which included chlorine, trimethylamine, and alkaloid resin, and sulphur compounds.

Cross-infection in the dental profession. Dental instruments sterilization: assessment. 1.

In dentistry, and as a part of the health profession, cross-infection is a professional hazard. The infection can be transmitted by instruments, dental personnel or by patients. Dental instrument sterilization is a vital procedure to reduce the chance of cross-infection in the dental profession. Part I of this study is to assess the dental instruments sterilization at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Random samples were taken from the CSSD for this purpose. No bacterial growth was detected.