Bacterial colonization status of cystic fibrosis children's toothbrushes: a pilot study

A. Genevois (1) , Christine Roques (2) , Chrsitine Segonds (3) , Laurent Cavalié (3) , François Brémont (1) , Laurent Maubisson (4, 5, 6) , Emmanuel Mas (1) , Marie Mittaine (1)

1 CHU Toulouse - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse
2 LGC - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique
3 Institut Fédératif de Biologie (IFB)
4 Université Francois Rabelais [Tours]
5 Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE) - Tours
6 VALLOREM - Val de Loire Recherche en Management

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus toothbrush contamination in cystic fibrosis (CF) is unknown. This pilot study aimed to determine their prevalence and the potential involvement of toothbrushes in pulmonary infection. Methods. Toothbrush bacteriological analysis for children aged 8–18 years was conducted on 27 CF patients, 15 healthy siblings, and 15 healthy children from the general population. Results : S. aureus was detected on 22% of the patients’ toothbrushes, and 13% of healthy children's toothbrushes and P. aeruginosa on 15% of patients’ toothbrushes and 0–13% of healthy children's toothbrushes. There was no statistical correlation between pulmonary colonization and toothbrush contamination. P. aeruginosa genotyping showed two identical clones on the patients’ toothbrushes and in their sputum, and between one patient's sputum and his sibling's toothbrush. Conclusion : S. aureus and P. aeruginosa can colonize CF patients’ toothbrushes. The impact on pulmonary colonization remains unknown. Toothbrush decontamination methods need to consider these bacteria in CF patients.

Mots clés: Cystic fibrosis; Toothbrushes

Domaines: Génie chimique; Génie des procédés

A. Genevois, Christine Roques, Chrsitine Segonds, Laurent Cavalié, François Brémont, et al.. Bacterial colonization status of cystic fibrosis children's toothbrushes: a pilot study. Archives de Pédiatrie, 2015, 22 (12), pp.1240-1246. ⟨10.1016/j.arcped.2015.09.023⟩. ⟨hal-02134906⟩